GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON FEB 09

HURRIYET
-- TO ERDOGAN: SUPPORT US AS WELL
150 people from East Turkistan held a rally in front of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Istanbul to protest a massacre committed by the government of China 12 years ago in East Turkistan. A member of the Executive Board of East Turkistan Youth Association, Kursat Donmez, said that they expected Turkey and the Islamic world to extend support to East Turkistan and protest systematic genocide and assimilation of the government of China in East Turkistan. "After displaying a strong stance on the massacres being committed in Palestine, we expect Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to support our cause as well," told Donmez. There are about 35 million Muslim Turks living in East Turkistan.
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-- 72,000 TAXICABS WITH SECURITY CABINS COMING UP, MINISTER
Industry and Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan said that 72,000 taxicabs with security cabins would be in use in Turkey within the next two years. The taxicabs' cabins will be bullet proof. Glass cabins will be installed in taxicabs after an increase in the number of taxi driver murders recently. Similar taxicabs are in use in the United States and most European countries.
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MILLIYET
-- ARE HAMAS MISSILES ENOUGH FOR RESISTANCE?
President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine visited wounded Palestinian people, who were taken to the Turkish capital city for medical treatment, during his working visit to Turkey. During the visit, Palestinian President asked whether a few useless missiles were enough for resistance. "Hamas fired thousands of missiles. Only three people were killed in the Israeli side and two of them were already Palestinians. Is it called resistance? Does it work?," he said.
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-- "ARABS DO NOT PERCEIVE TURKEY CORRECTLY"
Yusuf al-Sharif, correspondent of the Arabic TV Channel al-Jazeera in Turkey, is a Palestinian. He thinks that Turkey's target regarding the Middle East is only cooperation. He says that Arabs do not understand Turkey correctly. "Most of Arabs think that Turkey is planning to become a leader in the region or it is trying to prove itself to the EU. Because, we, as Arabs, are interested only in leadership. Iran considers Turkey a rival since it is also planning to become a leader," he says in an interview with the Milliyet daily.
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SABAH
-- BLACK SUNDAY AT DOCKYARD
Assembler Selim Sevgili who was forced to work on his day off on Sunday at the Dentas dockyard in Tuzla district of Istanbul --recently shut down for five days due to risk of death-- , lost his live when he was caught up between closing doors of the storehouse. Sevgili's brother said , "they called my brother to work tough it was his day off, he would be fired if he did not go."
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-- AGAR TO FACE JUSTICE
The last culprit of the Susurluk case will be tried after 12 years. Agar who will be tried at the 11th High Criminal Court in Ankara is accused of forming an armed organization.

VATAN
-- BOTH SUPPORT AND WARNING
The report to be approved by the European Parliament has described the Ergenekon organization as a criminal gang and welcomed the beginning of the trial process. The report encouraged Turkish authorities to reveal all elements of the organization but also expressed its concerns over the treatment of suspects. The report warned Turkish authorities to respect the right to have fair trial and to stick to the principle of rule of law.
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-- UNAKITAN RELEASED FROM HOSPITAL
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan has been released from the Hacettepe University Hospital in the capital city of Ankara. The hospital management is expected to release a statement about Unakitan's health later today. Unakitan underwent a diagnostic angiocardiography on February 1.
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CUMHURIYET
-- ANOTHER WORKER DIES IN TUZLA
Selim Sevgili , who was employed at the Dentas dockyard which operates in the Tuzla dockyards district in Istanbul, lost his life when he was caught up between the closing doors of the freighter he was working on. With Sevgili's death, the number of workers who lost their lives in the Tuzla dockyards district in the last 17 years rose to 119.
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-- GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO GIVE AWAY WHITE GOODS
The assessment of the Higher Board of Elections, which regarded the donation of white goods and furniture "as an act trying to influence the voters' opinion and a violation of the constitution's act on equality in elections" and its decision to file a criminal complaint about public organs who were responsible for the act,  did not stop the Justice and Development Party administration. Governor of Tunceli, Mustafa Yaman, continued Sunday to donate white goods in the neighbourhoods of Tunceli.
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RADIKAL
-- TOUGH BARGAINING WITH PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT ABBAS
President Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine held talks with President Abdullah Gul, Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan in the past two days. The three Turkish leaders gave the same message to President Abbas: Do not underestimate Hamas. "Hamas should be a part of the solution in Palestine," the Turkish leaders told Abbas.
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-- ECONOMIC CRISIS DOES NOT AFFECT VALENTINE'S DAY
The global financial crisis did not affect Valentine's Day shoppers. Sales throughout Turkey increased dramatically thanks to the upcoming Valentine's Day. "Special days do not get (negatively) affected by the global economic crisis. Individuals spend money to buy gifts for their lovers," told many Turkish shop owners.

YENI SAFAK
-- ORACLE CHANGES TUNE
Economy Professor Nouriel Roubini who until recently argued that Turkey's economy was fragile, changed his mind. Roubini who is regarded as the oracle because he was able to forecast the global crisis one year ahead, said the economic reforms implemented in Turkey after the crisis in 2001, bore fruit. "Turkey will win in the medium and long term," said Roubini.      Â
-- ARMENIAN BILL WILL HARM RELATIONS
Former White House Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft said relations between Turkey and the U.S. would seriously be harmed should the Armenian genocide draft bill be adopted. "We can't lose such a strong ally. We can't act on our own in the Middle East. We always need Turkey's help," said Scowcroft.