GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON APR 21

HURRIYET 

--5,000 COMMANDOS IN OPERATION

More than 5,000 commandos are participating in air and ground operations against terrorist organization, the PKK, who were preparing to stage terrorist acts in the mountainous areas of Sirnak. In a separate operation in the rural area of Kars' Kagizman town, Turkish troops killed five terrorists. One soldier died and another was wounded in the operation.

--TWO MAJOR AWARDS FROM THE UNITED STATES FOR "BEYAZ MELEK"

"Beyaz Melek" (White Angel), the first film directed by Turkish folk singer Mahsun Kirmizigul, competed along side 450 films at the 41st WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival--one of the oldest film festivals in the United States. The film received an award for best foreign film award and a best director jury special award.

Head of the festival, Hunter Todd defined Beyaz Melek as an extraordinary and impeccable film. Todd said it was the most touching film he had seen in recent times. Steven Spielberg and Oliver Stone also received awards at the festival.

MILLIYET

--ISTANBUL IS THE RIGHT PLACE FOR "TRUMP TOWERS"

A ceremony was held on Saturday night to introduce the first Trump Towers of Europe to be built in the Mecidiyekoy district of Istanbul. Dogan Holding's CEO and Tasyapi Executive Board President welcomed the guests. Ivanka Trump represented the Trump Corporation and said, "We have found the right place and the right partner."

--"WHITE ANGEL" WINGS IN U.S.

Mahsun Kirmizigul's film "Beyaz Melek" (White Angel) that represented Turkey at the 41st WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival in the U.S., where it was awarded best foreign film and the jury’s special award for the best director.

SABAH

--DEFENSE PLAN OF RULING AKP

All legal views, as well as documents and information supporting the defense of the Justice & Development Party (AKP) in the closure case will be collected and grouped and later handed over to the lawyer defending the ruling party.

Prime Minister and AKP chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan chose the legal team comprising of eight.

--LEGENDARY CHAMPION BILGE DIES

Turkey’s World and Olympic champion wrestler Gazenfer Bilge, 85, died in Istanbul on Sunday. Bilge will be laid to rest on Monday.

VATAN

--SUPER CHILDREN

A total of 58 students will graduate from the TEV Inanc Turkes High School in the town of Gebze in the western province of Kocaeli this year. Eleven of the 58 students were accepted to respectable universities around the world as "professional fellows." This figure is expected to rise to 30 at the end of June.

It is almost a guarantee that other graduates of the school will win places in the leading universities of Turkey.

--SOLDIER DIES IN KARS

Turkish army corporal, Zulkuf Tekir died and a private was injured in clash with PKK terrorists in the town of Kagizman in the eastern province of Kars.

Security forces killed 5 terrorists in the operation.

CUMHURIYET

--CLASH IN KARS: ONE SOLDIER DIES

A clash erupted between security forces and terrorists in operations against the terrorist organization PKK in the town of Kagizman in the rural region of Kars. Five terrorists were killed in the operation. Private Zulkif Tekir died and Private Osman Gokkaya was wounded in the clash.

--WE LOST BILGE

World and Olympic championship wrestler, Turkey’s Gazanfer Bilge, 85, died of liver problems on Sunday. Bilge had been receiving treatment in hospital for some time.

RADIKAL

ERDOGAN: DEMOCRATIC POLITICS HAS NO ALTERNATIVE

At the congress for the women's branches of the ruling AKP, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan defined the members of his party as "a group adopting and protecting the values of the Republic." Addressing the opposition, Erdogan said, "We are in this hall because we believe this nation does not deserve negligent and deaf politicians."

Erdogan also said, "Trying to make politics not a place to solve problems is the greatest harm." Erdogan said, "Democratic politics has not any acceptable alternative."

--DAY OF DECISION ON MAY 1

The government will discuss on Monday whether or not to declare May 1 as a festival and official holiday. May 1 is celebrated as the festival of labor and workers in 150 countries.

YENI SAFAK

--TURKEY REPORT INCLUDING "ERGENEKON"

The Turkey Report issued by the European Parliament says the parliament encourages the Turkish authorities to resolutely pursue investigations into the Ergenekon affair and supports its fight against terrorism.

The report said the European Union (EU) should see the importance of Turkey and give visa facilities. The report said the European Parliament had grave concerns over the possible outcome of a closure ruling for the AKP, noting it expected the Turkish Constitutional Court to act in accordance with the Venice Commission guidelines on the prohibition of political parties and with European standards.