GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON APR 6

HURRIYET
-- WELCOME, MR. PRESIDENT
Welcome, Mr. President … You are welcome in a country that has friendly relations with the United States. But we have been offended for the last eight years. Now, it is time to heal. Welcome to Turkey. U.S. President Barack Obama arrived in Ankara's Esenboga Airport at 9:15 p.m. local time. Obama will begin his program in Ankara by visiting the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Then, he will meet with President Abdullah Gul. After holding talks with Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and leaders of the opposition parties, Obama will deliver a 45-minute speech at the Turkish Parliament. He will proceed to Istanbul to attend the Alliance of Civilizations forum after meeting with Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.
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-- MESSAGE THAT CAME SEVEN HOURS EARLIER
U.S. President Barack Obama called on Brussels to accept Turkey as a full member of the EU in the Czech Republic, the last leg of his tour of Europe, some seven hours before arriving in Turkey. Obama said Turkey's progress on the path leading to full EU membership would be a sound signal to the whole world. While the European Commission welcomed Obama's support for Turkey's EU progress, President Nicolas Sarkozy of France said that it was up to the EU to make a decision about Turkey's membership.
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MILLIYET
-- EU SUPPORT FROM OBAMA
Speaking at a U.S.-EU summit in Prague, U.S. President Barack Obama said the West must be in closer cooperation with the Islamic world. As such, accepting Turkey into the union would be an important signal, Obama said.       Â

-- PICTURE CHANGES IN CAPITAL
After winning only in the Cankaya district of Ankara in the general elections of July 22, 2007, the Republican People's Party, or CHP, made significant gains in the March 29 local elections. The Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, after being unable to win in any of Ankara’s districts in the general elections of 2007, also made significant gains by winning mayoral positions in various towns of Ankara. As such, the political picture has changed in Ankara.
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-- U.S. INVESTMENTS TO FLOW INTO TURKEY FOLLOWING OBAMA'S VISIT
Turkish-American Businessmen's Association President Ugur Terzioglu said that the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama will boost relations between Turkey and the U.S. Multibillion U.S. dollars’ worth of investments will flow into Turkey following Obama's visit, Terzioglu stressed.
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-- GARANTI BANKASI TO ERECT TECHNOLOGY CENTER
Following Akbank, ING Bank and Finansbank, Turkey's Garanti Bankasi has purchased land of 48,000 square meters in Pendik, Istanbul, on which the bank will erect an operation and technology center. The land cost Garanti Bankasi $33 million. Garanti Bankasi's technology center would be constructed in two years and will employ around 3,000 people after construction is finished.
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SABAH
-- FULL SUPPORT FROM ZAPATERO FOR EU MEMBERSHIP
Premier Tayyip Erdogan and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero got together for the first Turkey-Spain summit. Erdogan said he was pleased with Zapatero's support to Turkey's EU membership. Zapatero said they gave full support to Turkey's EU membership.
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-- LET'S GIVE A CHANCE TO TURKEY
European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said the EU ought to keep its promise to Turkey, which was making reforms and give it a chance to prove that it is worthy of membership. "The EU needs a stable Turkey, which is democratizing," said Rehn.

VATAN
-- "MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS TURKISH MEMBERSHIP IN THE EU"
U.S. President Barack Obama attended the U.S.-EU Summit in Czech Republic before arriving in Turkey, and called on member states to accept Turkey as a full member of the 27-nation bloc. "The United States and Europe must approach Muslims as our friends, neighbors and partners in fighting injustice, intolerance and violence, forging a relationship based on mutual respect and mutual interests. Moving forward towards Turkish membership in the EU would be an important signal of your (EU) commitment to this agenda and ensure that we continue to anchor Turkey firmly in Europe," he told EU leaders.
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-- "I DID NOT PROMISE IT"
Denmark's Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who was elected new secretary-general of NATO after Turkey lifted its veto, changed his tune on his return to his country. He said that he did not promise to close down Roj TV. On the other hand, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi denied Rasmussen and said that Danish prime minister pledged to ban the TV channel.
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CUMHURIYET
-- COUNTRY SUNK IN DEBT
Turkey's net debt stock rose by 70 percent in Justice and Development Party, or AKP rule and reached $150.766 billion. Turkey's non-bank foreign debt stock rose by 114 percent. The outlook of the banking sector which went through a serious crisis in 2001, had considerably changed in the same period. The foreign debt of banks rose by 434.8 percent between 2002 and 2008 and reached $55.358 billion.
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-- "ALLIANCE OF CIVILIZATIONS" IS BEGINNING
The second forum of the "U.N. Alliance of Civilizations" hosted by Turkey will begin Monday in Istanbul with the participation of heads of state and government and ministers of over 30 countries. While U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to make a brief appearance at the forum, Azerbaijan will not attend due to its annoyance over Turkey's warming relations with Armenia.
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RADIKAL
-- A FILM STRONG ENOUGH TO AMEND IMMIGRATION LAWS
Helping immigrants is a crime in France where it can be punished by a sentence of up to five years in prison. The film 'Hosgeldiniz' (Welcome) is strong enough to amend the immigration laws in France, say many experts. 'Hosgeldiniz' was on display at the 28th Istanbul Film Festival as the opening film on Friday. The film was screened in France earlier and it was also watched by the deputies of the French Parliament. Turkish actress Derya Ayverdi said that "it is nonsense to punish individuals who help the needy, the immigrants."      Â

-- PRESIDENT OBAMA: TURKEY MUST BE A MEMBER OF EU
The President of the United States Barack Obama made a call to the European Union, or EU to accept Turkey as a member to the union. Obama's comments came at the U.S.-EU summit in Prague on Sunday. Obama said that Turkey's membership to the EU would send a positive signal to the Islamic world.
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-- 385,000 NEW UNEMPLOYED
The number of unemployed individuals in Turkey continues to grow. According to research conducted by a Turkish NGO, 385,000 more people became unemployed in Turkey between July-December 2008.
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-- RAINFALL TO CONTINUE IN APRIL
Almost all corners of Turkey will continue to receive rainfall in April. Western regions of Turkey will receive rainfall on Monday and Tuesday. As of Wednesday, eastern regions of Turkey will receive heavy rainfall. Temperatures in Turkey will remain stable and not change due to the rainfall.

YENI SAFAK
-- ACCEPT TURKEY AND MAKE PEACE WITH ISLAM
U.S. President Barack Obama, who proceeded to Prague from Strasbourg where a NATO summit was held, sent  messages about the importance of rapprochement between the western countries and the world of Islam. Obama, who addressed the leaders of the 27 EU member states in Prague, the capital of Czech Republic, said Turkey's accession to the EU would be a positive message to the Islamic world. "The West should work to develop closer ties and enhance cooperation with the Islamic world. Turkey's accession to the EU will be a good sign of these efforts," said Obama.
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-- RENOUNCIATION FROM BERLUSCONI
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi gave up the NATO SG assistant seat held by Italy for years in order to solve the veto crisis in NATO. As well as, Danish Premier Anders Rasmussen's consent to apologize, the said move also was effective in Turkey reversing its decision to veto. It is not certain yet who would be appointed to the seat, which Turkey won after 39 years. Turkey held the NATO SG assistant seat between 1968 and 1970.