GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JAN 7

HURRIYET
-- PREMIER ERDOGAN CRITICIZES ISRAEL
Prime Minister and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) chairman Tayyip Erdogan made severe criticisms regarding Israeli attack on Gaza in his speech at his party's group meeting in the parliament. Erdogan said, "history will judge Israel." In response to Israel's statement that he was emotional and he had an emotional connection to the Palestinians, Erdogan said, "no, I am not emotional. But I am acting on the basis of experience. I advise Ehud Barak (Israeli defense minister) and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to leave aside upcoming elections in February. The history will accuse them of disgracing the humanity."
       Â
-- FLOW OF NATURAL GAS FROM WESTERN LINE OF RUSSIA TO TURKEY COMPLETELY CUT
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said the flow of natural gas from the western line of Russia to Turkey completely stopped. Guler said his ministry had started to take necessary measures on the matter. The amount of natural gas Turkey received from Blue Stream line (of Russia) increased from 40 million cubic meters to 48 million cubic meters a day, Guler said. Regarding the flow of Russian natural gas to Turkey via Ukraine, Guler said, "the amount of natural gas, which flows from western line of Russia, dropped first to 32 million cubic meters and then to 17 millon cubic meters. Currently, the natural gas inflow through Ukraine has completely stopped."
       Â
MILLIYET
-- PREMIER REJECTS ISRAELI CRITICISM OVER HIS REMARKS ON GAZA
Premier Tayyip Erdogan responded to an Israeli criticism which argued that he was reacting "emotionally" over the Israeli offensive on Gaza: "I am talking as a prime minister who has been kept waiting for half an hour in his car at the border pass in Ramallah. Now Israel who had done such a thing is talking about diplomacy." "I am not reacting emotionally. I am talking through wisdom and experience," he said.
       Â
-- PREMIER'S SPOKESMAN RESIGNS
Akif Beki, official spokesman for Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, has resigned from his position. Beki said he would return to active duty as a journalist. Beki's relations with the media have often caused controversy as he recently refused to renew accreditation cards of a number of journalists covering the premier's talks.
       Â
-- PROTESTERS BLOCK BASKETBALL GAME BETWEEN TURKISH, ISRAELI TEAMS
A group of protesters gathered outside an Ankara arena, where Turkey's Turk Telekom and Israel's Bnei Hasharon basketball teams were supposed to play a Euro Cup game, in order to protest Israel's ongoing military operation in Gaza. Protesters sprayed tear gas to the police and shattered the entrance doors of the arena. As the group continued its severe protests inside the arena the Israeli team refused to play the game.
       Â
SABAH
-- EYES ON VALVES
Ukraine closed the previous night the valve bringing natural gas from Russia to Turkey due to its commercial crisis with Russia. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said, "it affected Turkey but we will not make our people feel cold." Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "we have already taken measures and we will continue to supply natural gas to our people."
       Â
-- GOOD NEWS: MATURITY FOR CREDIT DEBTS
The government submitted a new project to the Economic Coordination Board. The project will enable people to pay their credit debts in installments. Commercial credits can be repaid in installments with at least 18-month maturity, and credit card and housing credits can be repaid with at least three-month maturity and low interest rates. The board will set how the debts can be restructured within a month.

VATAN
-- WHAT ISRAEL HAS DONE WILL BE DISGRACE IN HISTORY, ERDOGAN
Prime Minister and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) chairman Tayyip Erdogan criticized ongoing Israeli attack on Gaza in his speech at his party's group meeting in the parliament.  In response to Israel's statement that he was emotional, Erdogan said, "I advise Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni to leave aside upcoming elections in February. The history will accuse them of putting a stain on the humanity."
       Â
-- RUSSIA CUTS NATURAL GAS FLOW TO TURKEY
Flow of natural gas of 45 million cubic meters a day to Turkey via Ukraine has stopped. But the current situation will not make a negative impact on Turkey, the officials said. Turkey has natural gas stock of 2.5 billion cubic meters, the officials said.
       Â
CUMHURIYET
-- TURKEY CAUGHT UNPREPARED FOR NATURAL GAS SHORTAGE
Turkey is facing a 42 million cubic meters of shortage in daily natural gas supply  as Russia stopped giving gas to Ukraine. Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said the Blue Stream line from Russia would pump an additional of 8 million cubic meters of gas daily and the purchase of the Iranian gas would be increased to 3 million cubic meters. Turkey's natural gas company started to pump 16 million cubic meters daily from its reserves.
       Â
-- BASKETBALL GAME CANCELLED OVER ISRAEL PROTEST
A Euro Cup basketball game between Turkey's Turk Telekom and Israel's Bnei Hasharon was cancelled due to heavy protests by the audience over Israel's offensive on Gaza. Protesters also hurled coins and other materials at the players, chanting slogans against Israel.
       Â
RADIKAL
-- ERDOGAN: HISTORY WILL JUDGE BARAK AND LIVNI
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan harshly criticized Israeli attacks on Gaza. Erdogan said that Israel did not lift the embargo while Hamas was obeying the cease-fire. Erdogan said, "you cannot use violence just because Hamas has made mistakes. We are beside the oppressed and we are talking as the grandchildren of the Ottomans who behaved you as guests in these lands." Erdogan said, "Israel makes calculations and thinks of the elections due in February. I am calling on (Israeli Defense Minister Ehud) Barak and (Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi) Livni to leave aside elections. History will judge you for overshadowing humanity."
       Â
-- GAZA SHADOW OVER SPORTS
Israeli flag was set ablaze before a basketball match between Turk Telekom team of Turkey and Israeli Bnei Hasharon team. Fans threw shoes at the basketball hall. The game was cancelled.

YENI SAFAK
-- ERDOGAN DID NOT SPEAK WITH OLMERT BY PHONE
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, but Erdogan did not speak with him. Erdogan informed his party's central executive board members on diplomatic initiatives which were launched by Turkey after Israeli attacks on Gaza. Erdogan said that Olmert called him but he did not talk to him by saying that Israel should first put an end to attacks and then he could speak with him.