GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON FEB 18

HURRIYET
-- TURKISH TROOPS ON WAY TO FIGHT PIRATES
Turkey's TCG Giresun frigate left Aksaz port in the Aegean town of Marmaris to join international naval force to fight against pirates in the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia.
 
-- US DOLLAR PUSHING 1.7 TL LEVEL
One U.S. dollar rose above 1.689 Turkish lira (TL) on Tuesday. The dollar-euro parity dropped to 1.26, which caused the dolar to gain in value against TL.
 
-- 120 KG EXPLOSIVES IN MANAVGAT
Upon a tip-off, gendarmerie forces seized 120 kilograms of explosives in an excavation in a forest in the Mediterranean town of Sorgun. Gendarmerie forces found plastic explosives, electronic fuses, and 30 kilograms of hashish in a two-meter-wide and two-meter-deep hole. The gendarmerie are investigating if the haul is connected with the terrorist organization.
 
MILLIYET
-- 120 KG OF EXPLOSIVES SEIZED IN MANAVGAT
Acting on a tip off, gendarmerie forces seized 120 kg of A-4 and C-4 types of explosives hidden in packages near the construction of a 5-star hotel in Sorgun forest in Manavgat town in the southern province of Antalya.

The explosives were hidden two meters under the ground.
 
-- GAZANFER OZCAN PASSES AWAY
Famous actor Gazanfer Ozcan passed away in hospital where he had been receiving treatment for pneumonia for 1-1/2 months. No information was given as to when the funeral of 78-year-old Ozcan would be held.
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SABAH
-- TURKISH THEATER WORLD LOSES ITS DOYEN
Turkish theater world lost its master. Actor Gazanfer Ozcan passed away at the age of 78 on Tuesday night. Ozcan was suffering from heart failure and blood vessel blockage in his neck. Ozcan had been receiving treatment in the intensive care unit at the American Hospital in Istanbul for four days.
 
-- FAREWELL TO TURKISH SOLDIERS WHO LEAVE FOR GULF OF ADEN
TCG Giresun, a guided-missile frigate, set sail from a naval base in the southwestern town of Marmaris along with two helicopters, an underwater assault team and an underwater task team. Relatives of Turkish soldiers aboard the frigate attended a farewell ceremony in Marmaris. The frigate embarked on an assignment to protect commercial vessels against piracy in the Gulf of Aden, one week after Turkish parliament approved the deployment of Turkish naval forces as part of an international joint task force.
 
VATAN
-- WE HAVE SEEN THEM OFF
TGC Giresun frigate, embarked on an assignment to protect commercial vessels against piracy in the Gulf of Aden, set sail from a naval base in the southwestern town of Marmaris. Families farewelled the sailors who would conduct a four month tour of duty in the Aden Gulf. TCG Giresun is a guided-missile frigate having two helicopters, an underwater assault team and an underwater task team. The Turkish frigate is expected to arrive in its destination within 4-5 days. It will officially begin its task as of Feb. 25.
 
-- NOBODY BELIEVED THIS MR. SEVIGEN
Secretary General of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Mehmet Sevigen, who was revealed to have negotiated for a 23-storey residence project, was unconvincing in his attempts to defend himself. Sevigen said, "I wanted to be a partner to a company with a 5.7 or 8 percent share. I could not find necessary money to be a shareholder." Sevigen also said no field settlement change (for the residence) was made during the negotiations for the partnership.

CUMHURIYET
-- HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN TURKEY
Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK) executives said that Turkey ranked third in its rate of unemployment in the world, behind South Africa and Spain. TISK authorities said that there was a need to take urgent measures in regard to the unemployment problem in Turkey.
 
-- QUAKE FRIGHTENS PEOPLE
An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale jolted the western province of Kutahya on Tuesday, causing minor damage. The epicenter of the tremor was the town of Simav, the Istanbul-based Kandilli observatory said on its website. A woman died after suffering a heart attack during the earthquake.

RADIKAL
-- BAD NEWS DOES NOT END
Industrialists and citizens tightened their belts in electricity consumption. Electricity consumption that indicates economic revival was down 10 percent in January 2009 over January 2008. In addition to the economic growth, budget deficit and unemployment figures, electricity consumption also indicated that Turkey could not escape the affects of the global economic crisis. Turkey's electricity consumption was the lowest in January 2009 for the first time since the economic crisis in 2001.
 
-- CITIZENS OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN HAVE A REQUEST FROM PREMIER
Citizens of Armenian descent felt sad after the Justice and Development Party (AKP) distributed the "Sari Gelin-Ermeni Sorununun Ic Yuzu Belgeseli" (Blond Bride-The Documentary of the Details of the Armenian Issue), and the National Education Ministry permitted the documentary film to be shown in the elementary schools. Around 500 citizens of Armenian descent wrote a letter to Premier Tayyip Erdogan. In their letter, they said, "If you think that showing the documentary is beneficial for Turkish society; then at least we request that you prevent showing it in Armenian schools to save the Armenian kids from getting isolated."
 
YENI SAFAK
-- PIRATES HUNT STARTS
Giresun frigate set sail from southwestern town of Marmaris to deal with the pirates that terrorize Aden Gulf. The frigate has two helicopters, an underwater assault team and an underwater task team in it.
 
-- ZIRAAT BANKASI IN GREECE
Turkey's Ziraat Bankasi opened its first branch in Greece. State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Nazim Ekren opened the bank branch.
 
-- FAMOUS ACTOR PASSES AWAY
Famous name of Turkish movie and theatre Gazanfer Ozcan passed away on Tuesday. 78-year-old Ocan was receiving treatment in hospital for 1-1/2 months for cardiac failure.