GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JUNE 20

HURRIYET

--EVEN IF THEY ARE TROUBLE-MAKERS

The statement of Higher Education Board (YOK) President Prof. Dr. Yusuf Ziya Ozcan who described the religious high schools known as "imam-hatip" as trouble-makers, has escalated tension. National Education Minister Huseyin Celik reacted strongly to Prof. Dr. Ozcan and said, "it is not possible to accept such a manner of speaking." Celik said that Ozcan should apologize as soon as possible.

--SPECIAL BUREAUCRAT FOR KURDISH TRT

Sinan Ilhan from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been appointed as the coordinator for Turkish state-run Radio and Television's broadcast in Kurdish. Ilhan, earlier, worked at Turkish embassies in the Middle Eastern countries. He can speak Kurdish, Arabic, Persian, English and Hebrew.

Ilhan will develop a broadcasting policy after holding talks with leading Kurdish intellectuals, politicians and bureaucrats.

MILLIYET

--TURKS READY TO TAKE TO STREETS!

Turkey's national soccer team will play against Croatia on Friday night in a quarter finals game in the Euro 2008. Turkey want to qualify for semi-finals for the first time in the history. Turkey sent one million Turkish flags to Germany for Turkish fans.

Turkish security forces have warned fans not to fire bullets into air in case Turkey win tonight's game. Turkey have never beaten Croatia. Millions of Turks are expected to take to streets if Turkey beat Croatia.

--PARTY CLOSURE WILL HAVE IMPORTANT CONSEQUENCES

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said that a possible closure of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) would have important consequences.

Asked if the EU would stop negotiations with Turkey in case the ruling AKP got closed, Barroso did not give a definite answer. "I can answer your question only after the decision of the Turkish Constitutional Court. What I can say, however, is that if the AKP gets closed, it would generate important results," Barroso said.

SABAH

--IF RULING AKP IS CLOSED DOWN, NEGOTIATIONS WILL STOP

European Parliament replied to the recent statements of certain media organs which claimed that "EU supported the closure of ruling AKP".

Holding a press conference on the sidelines of the EU leaders' summit in Brussels, EU Parliament President Hans-Gert Pottering and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso commented on the news claiming that "EU has changed its stance regarding the closure of political parties".

Pottering said "the negotiations would continue as long as Turkey did not change the conditions itself". He said that nobody thought of suspending the negotiations with Turkey, however, the country would have done it itself, if AKP got closed down and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan was banned politically.

--I WILL HURT YOU, ERDOGAN

Premier Erdogan held a 3-hour meeting with owners of the shipyards at Tuzla upon the death of numerous workers in the region.

"Stop the deaths or I will hurt you," Erdogan said during the meeting. "There are 47 shipyards in Tuzla. However, a few of them are licensed. We should solve this issue," Erdogan also said.

VATAN

--"ARE WE THAT LOST?"

Mustafa Koc, a leading businessman, has described the current situation in politics as a serious "eclipse of reason".

"We look like siblings who fight to share their fathers' heritage. We waste our energy. How can we dare to tear off the regime and its bases? Are we that lost?" he said at a meeting of the Turkish Industrialists'  Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD). Koc called on politicians to set up dialogue to ease the tension as soon as possible.

--SECOND CONFESSION

The court has listened to two witnesses in the case about killing of journalist-writer Hrant Dink of Armenian descent. During the trial of two suspects who were accused of negligence, the witnesses said that they received a tip-off about six months before the assassination, but they did not take it seriously.

CUMHURIYET

--RESPECT FOR JUDICIARY IS A MUST

The President of the Executive Board of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag said "Turkey is going through a tough period due to political polarization and high risks carried by the economy. There can be debates and the decision of the Constitutional Court can be criticized. However, the reactions, which go further not to recognize Turkey's top court, are unacceptable. Respect for the Turkish judiciary is a must."

--CONSUME LOTS OF WATER AND FRUITS DURING SUMMER

Health experts have warned all people that the consumption of water and fruits should be increased as much as possible during summer months.

Individuals should make sure that they consume lots of grapes, tomatoes, green peppers, strawberries and peaches. Dr. Murat Gorgulu of the Memorial Hospital said that the consumption of alcoholic beverages under direct sunlight could have fatal consequences. "If you do plan to drink alcoholic beverages, then try consuming alcoholic beverages with lots of water," Gorgulu stressed.

RADIKAL

--TURKISH PREMIER RESPONDS TO CALLS FOR SAFETY AT TUZLA SHIPYARD

Turkish prime minister chair a meeting in a bid to respond to prolonged calls for effective safety measures at shipyards in Istanbul's Tuzla region, where over 25 workers died in accidents in 2008.

"I do not want any deaths in Tuzla. I will hurt you if you do not end it," Recep Tayyip Erdogan told shipyard owners during the Istanbul meeting. Erdogan said the government would not let ship building industry to "go down in the negative climate created by the accidents."

--WITNESS ACKNOWLEDGES NEGLIGENCE IN KILLING OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN JOURNALIST

A witness in the case of the slain Turkish Armenian journalist Hrant Dink admitted to underestimating an information which came in about the assassination. "The gendarmerie knew about the attack six months in advance and police had known that it would happen for a year," sergeant Omer Unalir told the court.

YENI SAFAK

--DERVIS MARKETING

Kemal Dervis "overshadowed" the high consultative meeting of TUSIAD which was held in an effort to discuss the formation of a new constitution that would "meet the expectations and demands of all segments of the society".

Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Turkish Confederation of Labor (Turk-Is) and Moral Rights Workers' Union (Hak-Is) did not attend the meeting as a sign of protest.

--I DO NOT WANT ANY MORE WORK ACCIDENTS, ERDOGAN

Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks with owners of shipyards at Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace. "I do not any more work accidents. Do not come near me if such accidents continue," Erdogan told shipyard owners.