GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JAN 31

HURRIYET
-- PERES SAYS ISRAEL WANTS NO CONFLICT WITH TURKEY
Israeli President Shimon Peres said he hoped relations with Turkey would not be affected by a heated exchange he had with Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "We don't want conflict with Turkey. We are in a conflict with the Palestinians," Peres told reporters.

-- NATIONAL INTERESTS CONSTITUTE BASIS OF TURKEY'S RELATIONS WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
Acting in accordance with the national interests of Turkey constituted the basis of bilateral military relations between Turkey and other countries, General Staff Communication Department Chief Gen. Metin Gurak said at a weekly press conference at the General Staff HQ in Ankara.
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MILLIYET
-- PERES SAYS SUCH THINGS HAPPEN BETWEEN FRIENDS
Israeli President Shimon Peres phoned Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan after a heated exchange that happened between Peres and Erdogan at the World Economic Forum in Davos the previous day. Peres told Erdogan during the phone conversation that such things could happen between friends.Â

-- GUL SAYS ERDOGN DID WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE
Turkish President Abdullah Gul extended support for Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan who stormed out of a discussion panel on Gaza on Thursday in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "A Turkish prime minister of course would not put up with a disrespect if he was shown one. No one should expect that. And the prime minister did what needed to be done and gave the answer that needed to be given," Gul told reporters.
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SABAH
-- "IMF IS JUST AN INSURANCE"
Economy Minister Mehmet Simsek, who is attending World Economic Forum Meeting in Davos, said Friday that "IMF would not compensate for the loss of demand abroad. We are looking at the program as an insurance against uncertainty." Simsek said Turkey needed a program with or without IMF.    Â

-- GAZZANS IN STREETS
Premier Tayyip Erdogan's stance in Davos was welcomed in Gaza. Gazzans who took to the streets after the Friday's prayer carried Turkish flags in their hands. Posters of Erdogan decorated the walls of the Palestinian parliament.

VATAN
-- AFTER CRISIS IN DAVOS
After Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan stormed out of a discussion panel on Gaza on Thursday in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Abdullah Gul said, "a Turkish prime minister of course would not put up with a disrespect if he was shown one. No one should expect that. And the prime minister did what needed to be done and gave the answer that needed to be given." Responding to a question on Turkey's relations with Israel, General Staff said acting in accordance with the national interests of Turkey constituted the basis of bilateral military relations between Turkey and other countries. Â

ERDOGAN: "I PROTECTED HONOR OF TURKEY"
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan has said, "I attended the panel discussion 'The Case for Middle East Peace' held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland as the prime minister of the Republic of Turkey. My responsibility is to protect the honor of the Turkish nation."
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CUMHURIYET
-- U.S. JEWISH LOBBY CONDEMNS ERDOGAN
American Jewish Committee (AJC) said they could not remain silent in the face of daunting accusations against Israel. The press release issued by AJC said, "Prime Minister Erdogan's tantrum at Davos throws gasoline on the fire of surging anti-Semitism." Washington Institute's strategist on Turkey, Soner Cagaptay said Prime Minister Erdogan's attitude in Davos was not an accident. U.S. Embassy in Ankara regarded the incident as unfortunate.

-- ISRAELI AMBASSADOR LEVY CALLS FOR TRANQUILITY
Israel adopted a stance, choosing not to further strain relations following the crisis in Davos. Israeli Ambassador in Ankara, Gabby Levy said, relations with Turkey would normalise in a short while. Levy who pointed out that relations between the two countries had been going through hard times recently, said both countries should calm down, and continue to work on issues regarding their interests and peace.
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RADIKAL
-- ERDOGAN'S STANCE IN DAVOS CREATES TWO FRONTS IN TURKEY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's stance at a discussion panel on Gaza on Thursday in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, created two fronts in Turkey. President Abdullah Gul and the ruling AKP back Erdogan, while former diplomats said that Erdogan's reaction was not professional.

-- SIMSEK: "EVEN IF WE REACH A CONSENSUS WITH IMF, ECONOMIC CRISIS WILL KEEP AFFECTING US"
Economy Minister Mehmet Simsek said that even if Turkey reached a consensus with the IMF, global economic crisis would keep affecting Turkey. Simsek said they had fruitful talks with the IMF and they wanted a sound program with the fund.