GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JAN 4

HURRIYET
-- DIRECTOR RESIGNS
Veysel Karani Demir, director-general of the Baskent Natural Gas Company, has resigned after coming under heavy criticisms for his blunders in the wake of the natural gas disaster in the capital city. "Although we did not have any faults, we were accused. Therefore, I decided to resign," he said in his statement. Seven students of the Bilkent University died of carbon monoxide poisoning while celebrating the new year in their apartment in the capital city of Ankara.
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-- COSTNER BACK IN TURKEY AGAIN
Worldwide famous actor Kevin Costner who gave a concert in Istanbul in 2007, will come to Turkey once again. This time, Costner will act in a commercial to be shot for the Turkish Airlines (THY). The commercial will be shown in 70 countries to promote both the THY and Turkey.
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MILLIYET
-- "TRT SES" DIVIDES KURDS
TRT 6 channel which broadcasts in Kurdish, stirred different reactions in southeastern Anatolia. While some see the "Kurdish move" as an investment towards the local elections, others see it as a step that should have been taken long ago. Some non-governmental organizations argue that all restrictions over the Kurdish language should be removed. Others demand new legislations allowing private T.V. channels to broadcast in Kurdish.
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-- GREEK CYPRIOT PARLIAMENT SPEAKER'S SHAME
Greek Cypriot Parliament Speaker Marios Karoyian, returned the new year gift basket sent by the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Mehmet Ali Talat. Karoyian sent the gift basket back because a label on one of the wines in the basket reads it was produced in TRNC.
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SABAH
-- SUPREME COURT ALLOWS MARRIED COUPLES TO MONITOR EACH OTHER
Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals, justified a husband who filed a divorce case based on the data he obtained from monitoring bugs he secretly placed in his house. The Supreme Court pointed out that the privacy of family life could not be violated, but said that, "couples have to be loyal to each other throughout their marriage."
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-- NO MILITARY OBLIGATION TO FAMILIES OF MARTYRS
A new move is underway to prevent families whose son have lost their life during military service to go through the same pain again. The draft law prepared by the Chairman of the Parliament's National Security Committee Kemal Yardimci, received approval from the Justice and Development Party (AKp) group, and was submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office. The draft laws stipulates that, all full brothers of a soldier who is killed in action in operations under counter-terror law will be exempt from military service. However if they willingly want to do the military service, they will be free to do so.

VATAN
--DID HE TAKE THE POSITION WITH BLACKMAIL?
It was revealed that Veysel Karani Demir took the office as the director-general of the Baskent Natural Gas Company while he was carrying out an investigation against Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek as an inspector. Demir, who insulted seven university students who died of carbon monoxide poisoning while celebrating the new year in their apartment in the capital city of Ankara, resigned after coming under harsh criticisms.

--"DREADFUL"
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has met King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz al Saud of Saudi Arabia during his visit to Riyadh under his tour of the Middle Eastern countries.

"I am calling out to the whole world: why didn't you display the same sensitivity you showed in Georgia, now in Gaza? Israeli offensive against Gaza created a humanity tragedy. It was dreadful that 185 Palestinians were killed and more than 100 others were injured on the first day of the offensive. We could not remain silent in the face of such a tragedy. Therefore, we took our steps to fulfil our responsibilities," he told reporters after the meeting.

CUMHURIYET
FIRST PRAYS, THEN RESIGNS
Veysel Karani Demir, director-general of the Baskent Natural Gas Company who tried to cut short his news conference he held after seven university students died of carbon monoxide poisoning while celebrating the new year in their apartment to join Friday prayer and who insulted the students by claiming that they were half naked, has resigned. Demir, who came under harsh criticisms, claimed that his words were distorted.

--PAMIR: "NATURAL GAS CRISIS WILL AFFECT TURKEY"
An energy expert has said that the crisis stemming from Russia's cutting off natural gas flow to Ukraine, would also affect Turkey. "Turkey's daily natural gas requirement is about 130 million cubic meters. We obtain some 40-45 million cubic meters of this amount from the western line cut off by Russia. Now, Ukraine can use the natural gas sent for Turkey. And this will have a quite negative impact on Turkey," Necdet Pamir said.

RADIKAL
--CONTEMPT TO BAYKAL
Interior Minister Besir Atalay criticized Republican People's Party Leader Deniz Baykal who recently said he did not trust the police. Atalay said Baykal's remarks did not comply with state etiquette and said it hurt the security department deeply.

--ICE, SNOW AND FROST EVERYWHERE
Cold weather continue to affect Turkey. State Meteorology officials say it will snow in central and eastern parts of Turkey, while coastal regions will be under rain. Officials warn citizens to take precautions against frost and icy roads.

YENI SAFAK
--MASSACRE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan severely criticised Israel, and called on the world to show the sensitivity, it displayed during the Georgian conflict, also in Gaza. "Killing defenseless women and children there, is nothing but cruelty," said Erdogan.

--FAIR-SURPRISE
FIFA which once considered to ban Turkey from international competitions, found Turkish National Soccer team worthy of the Fair-Play prize, following the soccer game between Turkey and Armenia in Yerevan. Turkey's President Abdullah Gul had also attended the match in Yerevan.