GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JUNE 25

HURRIYET

--KARDESLIK (BROTHERHOOD) UBER ALLES

Turkey are set to challenge today Germany in a semi-finals game in Euro 2008. Turks have held their breath and they are expecting a victory from their players. But regardless of the match result, let brotherhood be the winner. Kardeslik uber alles! (Brotherhood above everything else!).

--HIGH COURT APPROVES MOVEMENT LEADER ACQUITTAL

Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals confirmed on Tuesday a ruling of a lower court to acquit Fethullah Gulen, leader of the Gulen movement, in a case in which he was charged with "forming an organization in order to change the secular state order." The high court ruling opened the way for Gulen to return to Turkey from the United States.

MILLIYET

--CRITICAL MEETING PRIOR TO SUPREME MILITARY BOARD MEETING

Prime Ministry residence hosted a surprising meeting between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug yesterday.

Prime Ministry stated that Erdogan invited Gen. Basbug, and they discussed "fight against terrorism and recent issues on the agenda of the country". It was interesting that the meeting --which lasted for two hours-- took place prior to Supreme Military Board meeting in August when Gen. Basbug will take over the post of chief of the General Staff.

--SARGSIAN TO INVITE GUL TO SOCCER MATCH

Armenian President Serzh Sargsian said that he would take steps to refresh relations with Turkey soon. He said he would probably invite Turkish President Abdullah Gul to Yerevan to watch a soccer match between Turkish and Armenian national teams.

SABAH

--GOOD MORNING MR. MINISTER

After 96 workers died at Tuzla shipyards region in Istanbul, it was revealed that the shipyards did not have regulations. Upon directives of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Labor Minister Faruk Celik took action and established a committee comprising shipyard owners as well as workers. The committee will set up the rules for shipyards.

--50,000 TURKS HAVE $1 MLN

Merrill Lynch and Capgemini released the 12th Annual World Wealth Report which covers 71 countries. There are interesting results about Turkey: the number of Turks, who have 1 million USD of cash money, rose by 17.5 percent and reached 50,000 in the last one year.

VATAN

--ERDOGAN RESPONDS TO OPPOSITION LEADER'S CALL TO STEP ASIDE

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly rejected a call by Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), to "step down."

"Making such illegitimate proposals to a political party and its leader, which received 47 percent of the popular vote, conforms neither with our national and moral values nor with the universal democratic principles," Erdogan told his Justice and Development (AK) Party's group meeting at parliament.

--ERDOGAN MEETS LAND FORCES COMMANDER

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a 2-hour meeting with Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug late on Tuesday. Sources said the meeting was scheduled three days ago on Erdogan's request. Erdogan and Basbug are set to come together at Thursday meeting of the National Security Council.

CUMHURIYET

--FRENCH SENATE REJECTS REFERENDUM ON TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP

The French Senate rejected a constitutional amendment envisaging a direct referendum in France to vote on Turkey's EU membership.

The amendment, which was previously adopted at the French parliament, stated that "the requirement of referendum should continue for the full membership of countries whose population exceeds 5 percent of the EU's total population." Upon the senate's rejection, the constitutional amendment package will be sent back to parliament.

--TURKISH PRIVATE KILLED IN CLASH IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY

A Turkish soldier was killed in clash with PKK terrorists in the southeastern Turkey. The clash erupted between security forces and a group of terrorists in rural area near Dicle town of the southeastern province of Diyarbakir. Erhan Caliskan was killed when terrorists opened fire on security forces.

RADIKAL

--HEARTS WITH YOU WHETHER YOU DEFEAT OR NOT

Turkey will play against Germany in Euro 2008 semi-finals at 9:45 p.m. tonight. World press defines Turkish team as the most fantastic team of Euro 2008. The problem of the team is four suspended and four injured players. The tickets of the match were all sold out. The referee is Massimo Busacca of Switzerland.

--EUROPE VOTING WHETHER OR NOT TO "MONITOR" TURKEY

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will hold an urgent session on Turkey tomorrow, and it will vote whether Turkish democracy is needed to be monitored by Council of Europe. The draft report prepared by a Belgian member of PACE urged the Council's monitoring committee to re-consider launching the monitoring process on the country if such a need arose.

YENI SAFAK

--MILLIONAIRE ROSTER IN TURKEY OVER 50,000

Merrill Lynch and Capgemini released the 12th Annual World Wealth Report. According to the report, the number of dollar millionaires in Turkey rose by some 8,000 from 42 thousand in 2006 and to more than 50 thousand in 2007.

--HIGH COURT APPROVES GULEN'S ACQUITTAL

Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals confirmed a lower court ruling to acquit Fethullah Gulen, leader of the Gulen movement. The court ruled with a majority of votes, clearing the way for Gulen to return to Turkey from the United States.