GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JUNE 19

HURRIYET

--ISLAMIC ORGANIZATION CAUSES ROW AT PARLIAMENTÂ

The opposition was infuriated about limitless privileges given to the Organization of the Islamic Conference's Youth Forum that will be founded in Istanbul as a part of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative.

An agreement on foundation of such a forum was adopted at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Turkish parliament with the votes of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies. Under the agreement, the organization can bring duty-free goods, the money brought to Turkey will not be under control, and the remarks of the president of the organization will not be subject to the judiciary.

--WE WERE CONFUSED AS WE LISTENED TO YOUÂ

"Political party closure case", "secularism" and "headscarf ban" were debated in a meeting at the European Parliament. MPs Mesut Yilmaz and Ufuk Uras and journalist Mehmet Ali Birand expressed their opinions in the meeting. After the meeting, Daniel Cohn Bendit, chairman of the Group of the Greens, said, "We were confused as we listened to you."

 

MILLIYETÂ

--$95 MILLION FROM DOGUS TO KRAL

Dogus Group was the sole bidder with $95 million for Kral TV and Kral FM radio channels, which were seized from Uzan's family and put on sale by Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). The group's offer will be presented to approval of the Fund's board, and then the result will be clear after the decision of the board.

--EU IS ON "WAIT AND SEE"

The EU, which firstly gave the reaction that membership talks might stop after a closure case was filed against Turkey's ruling AKP, is now saying the case did not affect the negotiation process. This change has several reasons. One of them is that several countries found the statements of Brussels very harsh.

--VETO TO TUZLA COMMITTEE FROM PARLIAMENT SPEAKER

Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan vetoed an initiative of a parliamentary committee --which was set up to inquire the deaths at Tuzla shipyards-- to start their job with a tour of South Korea and Ukraine.

The committee members decided to go to South Korea and Ukraine to observe conditions at shipyards in these two countries. However, the parliament speaker rejected their request. There were criticisms that committee members would go on vacation rather than making observations.

 

SABAH

--WARNING FROM PRESIDENT FOR MANNER OF DISCUSSION

President Abdullah Gul referred to the discussion of legislation, government, and jurisdiction and said, "Everyone should be careful in the manners, methods and level of those discussions. The preservation of national unity and integrity, as well as economic and political stability was in the best interest of Turkish people," Gul said.

--BOYCOTT AGAINST UNDP ADMINISTRATOR

Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is) and Moral Rights Workers' Unions (Hak-Is) do not attend Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association's (TUSIAD) High Consultation meeting in Istanbul as UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis agreed to attend the meeting.

TUSIAD was to offer its suggestions for both the new expansion and the constitutional on its agenda. Hak-Is Chairman Salim Uslu said "the presence of Dervis at a place where Constitution would be discussed led to the idea of a new political formation."

 

VATAN

--"STABILITY WILL CONTINUE, CONFIDE IN US"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech at the Investment Advisory Council meeting and addressed representatives of multi national companies like Fiat, Hyundai, Toyota, Novartis, Citi Group, ArcellorMittal.

"Global and national uncertainties will not divert us from our targets. We remain determined. We transformed Turkey into a center of attraction. But improving the environment of investment is a long-breathed task. We are traveling back and forth between cities and
countries in order to boost investments and attract foreign investment," Erdogan said.

--THREE PKK TERRORISTS KILLED

A private who was wounded in a clash in the eastern province of Bingol died in hospital. Three PKK terrorists were killed in a clash in the eastern province of Tunceli. Eight other terrorists who escaped from the PKK terrorist organization surrendered.

 

CUMHURIYET

--YILMAZ DRAWS ATTENTION TO DANGERS

Former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz who spoke at a conference in the European Parliament, said Turkey faced threats from separatist and reactionary movements. Yilmaz said that as long as those threats existed the soldiers could not be expected to return to their barracks. "It is not something unique to the soldiers, this sensitivity exists also in civil organizations and the judiciary branch," said Yilmaz.

--TEMPERATURES EXCEED SEASONAL NORMALS

While the temperatures exceeded seasonal norms nation wide, experts warned citizens living in the regions of Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean.

The temperatures in the southern city of Antalya exceeded 35 degrees Celsius in the downtown. The sea temperatures reached 23 degrees Celsius. The residents and tourists in the region rushed to beaches and swimming pools; while temperatures will remain around 35 degrees Celsius during the weekend, experts said.

 

RADIKAL

--ERDOGAN WILL FINALLY FOCUS ON TUZLA

Ship construction industrialists and representatives from Dok Gemi-Is company will convey their views to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan regarding the deaths at Tuzla shipyards in Istanbul at a meeting in Dolmabahce Palace. Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim will also attend the meeting.

--ODTU FINDS OLDEST WHEAT SEEDS

The oldest known wheat seeds were found in the Catalhoyuk region in the central Anatolian province of Konya by researchers of Ankara's Middle East Technical University. The wheat seeds, which are 8,500 years old, show that humans began agricultural activities in Catalhoyuk.

 

YENI SAFAK

--KRAL FM AND TV UNDER DOGUS GROUP

Dogus Group purchased Kral FM (radio station) and TV (channel), and paid $95 million to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). The group was the sole bidder in the auction. Dogus Group is planning to make Kral TV an entertainment channel.

--$7 BILLION FROM ZORLU TO ENERGY

Zorlu Enerji (energy) will give priority to renewable energy projects in the upcoming five years. The company aims to invest $7 billion in these projects, and raise its power to 4,200 megawatts.