GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON APR 2

HURRIYET
-- ERDOGAN: I WILL FIRE 6 MINISTERS IF YOU CAN PROVE ALLEGATIONS
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan denied claims by a newspaper that several ministers presented "verbal resignations" at the Council of Ministers meeting. "How can six ministers transcribe a secret meeting? If allegations regarding the six ministers are accurate, I will fire them. A Cabinet shuffle can happen at any time, and our ministers do not have any fears regarding such a shuffle," Erdogan said.
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-- TURKISH CANCER PATIENT UNABLE TO RECEIVE VISA FOR SPOUSE
Aydin Agkemik, a Turkish cancer patient living in Germany, is unable to receive a visa for his wife despite his deteriorating health condition. Agkemik's wife has learned the German language in Turkey, and the couple have signed a document stating that they will not ask for financial assistance from the German government. Agkemik is a citizen of Germany.
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-- ELECTIONS OVER, ERDOGAN ENTERS IMF PLAN ON ‘FAST ROAD MAP’
Leaving behind Sunday’s local elections, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has entered an IMF plan on a "fast road map." Erdogan stressed that in order to attain results, Turkey must hold meetings with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. "I may meet with the presidents of the IMF and the World Bank in London as part of the G20 meetings," Erdogan said.
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-- TURKISH EXPORTS DROP 34.9 PERCENT
Turkey's exports in March dropped 34.9 percent when compared with the same month last year. Turkey's exports in March were worth $7.1 billion. In March 2008, Turkey's exports were worth $10.9 billion.       �
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MILLIYET
-- AFRICA FARTHER AWAY NOW
The Turkish national football team suffered its second loss in five days at the hands of the Spaniards in the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. The Turkish team took the lead in the 26th minute, missing two other goal chances in the first half. The Spanish team tied the score in the 62nd from a penalty kick and won the game with another goal in the last minute. The Turkish team is in third place in the group with four points behind Bosnia.
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-- US PRESIDENT SET TO MEET OPPOSITION LEADERS
U.S. President Barack Obama, who is scheduled to arrive in Turkey on Sunday, is expected to briefly meet with leaders of the opposition parties in Turkey at the Turkish Parliament. After news outlets reported that Obama would meet with opposition leaders all at once, the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party, Devlet Bahceli, said they would decline the proposal as it would not fit diplomatic courtesy. "We can meet with him if it is done separately," Bahceli said.
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SABAH
-- ACCIDENT EN ROUTE TO AFRICA
Turkey lost to Spain for the second time in the 2010 World Cup qualifying group and exhausted their chances of qualifying for the finals in Africa. Turkey, who took the lead with a goal by Semih Senturk, fell apart following a penalty goal by Alonso in the 63rd minute and another goal by Rierra in the 92nd. Turkey holds third place four points behind Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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-- MOST CRITICAL SUMMIT ON ECONOMY
Economic growth and unemployment are on the agenda for G20 leaders, made up of countries that lead the world. Erdogan said a consensus on not making concessions regarding the market economy and avoiding protectionism would emerge from the summit in London.

VATAN
-- ‘LOVE OR LEAVE’ PHRASE HURTS AKP IN VAN
A journalist from daily Zaman, Huseyin Gulerce, made comments on the recent local elections in Turkey. Gulerce said the phrase "love Turkey or leave it" hurt the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, in the eastern province of Van. Gulerce stressed that the AKP lost many votes because of the phrase. "Turkish voters warned the AKP to conduct ‘soft politics.’ The Turkish voters have sent a message to the AKP so that this party will embrace all in the country," Gulerce said.
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-- ERDOGAN: IF I GET TO KNOW THOSE 6 MINISTERS, I WILL FIRE THEM
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan criticized Turkish daily Sabah after the newspaper ran a news story that six ministers of the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, offered verbal resignations at a Council of Ministers meeting. "How can six ministers make public a confidential meeting? If I do get to know those six ministers, I will fire them,” Erdogan said.
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-- SUMMIT TO FIND A CURE FOR GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS
The heads of state and government from the 20 most developed countries gathered at the G20 Summit in London to find a cure for the ongoing global financial crisis. The decisions to be made at the London summit will shape the world in the upcoming days and weeks. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan represents Turkey at the G20 Summit.
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-- SPRING HURTS INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN URBAN CENTERS
Dr. Sedat Demir of the Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital said the spring season hurts individuals living in urban centers more than it does individuals living in suburbs and small towns. "Spring causes fatigue, weariness and languidness in individuals living in major cities, where the negative ions are in abundance due to air pollution. In order to overcome the negative side effects of spring, individuals should exercise frequently, eat diverse fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water," Dr. Demir said.
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CUMHURIYET
-- EXPORTS PLUNGE IN MARCH
The global crisis did not pass by exports last month. Turkey's Exporters' Union Chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi said Turkey's exports plunged to $7.127 billion in March with a 35 percent decline compared with March 2008. Exports declined 28 percent in January and 35 percent in February. Buyukeksi said they hoped the 35 percent decline would be the bottom. "The fall will continue, but it will not increase. It will decrease. Exporters should definitely aim for new markets," said Buyukeksi.
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-- HEADSCARF OBJECTION
Political parties are challenging the election results in various corners of the country. When former mayor of Islahiye town of Gaziantep from Justice and Development Party, or AKP, was not re-nominated, his wife, Malika Uludag, ran for mayor as the Democratic Party, or DP, candidate and was elected. The AKP, which had been using headscarf as a political symbol for years, challenged the results on the grounds that she was wearing a headscarf.
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RADIKAL
-- PM STRONGLY DENIES RESIGNATION RUMORS IN CABINET
Premier Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at a newspaper report that claimed that several Cabinet members offered their resignations after Sunday's local elections showed the ruling party had lost part of its support. The daily Sabah said at least six cabinet members confirmed the news report. "What a shame," a frustrated Erdogan told reporters. "How come six cabinet members revealed the contents of a confidential meeting? I would have them sacked if they told me."
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-- EXPORTS HIT BOTTOM
Turkish exports plunged 35 percent in March over the same period last year to $7.1 billion. Exports fell 33 percent in the first three months of 2009 over to the same period last year, to $21 billion. The head of an influential business association in Turkey urged the government to "focus on the economy" now that the elections were over. "The growth target in the budget is still 4 percent. The budget will need to be revised extensively in the recession period. We need to devise a realistic budget to move ahead," said Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, chairwoman of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD).

YENI SAFAK
-- ‘I DO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MY CABINET,’ ERDOGAN SAYS
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan criticized reports that Cabinet members offered their resignations after the local elections. "There is no single minister in the Cabinet to made such a statement," Erdogan said. "A Cabinet overhaul might come any time. We are working on that.”      �

-- US DETAINS GERMAN GREEN'S TURKISH-DESCENT LEADER
Co-chairman of the German Green Party Cem Ozdemir was taken under a brief custody with his wife, Pia Castro, at Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C., upon their arrival in the United States. Ozdemir was treated as if he were a terrorist, and he was held for at least an hour. U.S. officials have failed to offer an apology.