GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JUNE 30

HURRIYET
-- TURKISH PREMIER, TOP GENERAL MEET AHEAD OF SECURITY COUNCIL
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug held a tete-a-tete meeting on Monday. The "extraordinary" meeting between Erdogan and Basbug came ahead of a National Security Council, or MGK, meeting today which is expected to take up an alleged anti-government plot document. The request came from Basbug as the meeting was announced to address the agenda of the MGK. Basbug reportedly told the premier that the General Staff had not given any order for the drafting ofthe document. He said a law which that allow civilian courts to try military personnel could cause an institutional problem. Basbug also reportedly urged the National Intelligence Agency to find out who was behind the alleged plot document.
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-- THREE MESSAGES FROM TURKISH PRESIDENT
Turkish President Abdullah Gul spoke to journalists aboard his plane on his return to Turkey from China on Monday. The president sent three messages in relation to the recent political issues. Gul said today's meeting of the National Security Council was an important one, but "we should not put Turkey in an extraordinary situation." On a proposal to bring the members of the 1980 military junta before justice, Gul said legal issues should be left to legal bodies. Gul called for maximum caution against those who may want to disturb harmony between institutions. The Turkish president also said he might send a law that would pave the way for civilian courts to try military personnel back to the parliament if it is has violated the Constitution.
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MILLIYET
-- PROSECUTORS WAITED FOR COLONELS ALL DAY LONG
The eight colonels wanted for questioning by the Ergenekon prosecutors, did not appear in court on Monday. The colonels are expected to make their statements today. It was claimed that the offices and homes of the eight navy colonels were searched during the latest wave of the operation, in which lawyer Serdar Ozturk was arrested. According to sources, the eight colonels, one of which is retired, will be questioned about documents seized during the police search.
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-- CRITICAL MEETING BEFORE MGK
The National Security Council, or MGK, meeting, to which Gen. Ilker Basbug said he would carry to the agenda the "Action Plan for the Fight Against Reactionary Movements" will be held today. On the eve of the critical MGK meeting, Basbug and Erdogan held a 90 minute meeting that delayed the start of a Cabinet meeting. Prior to his meeting with Basbug, Erdogan met with the Justice Minister at his residence.
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SABAH
-- 11TH STOP ON THE ROAD TO EU
The 11th chapter heading in Turkey's accession negotiations with the EU, the tax chapter, is being opened on the last day of the Czech EU Presidency. According to sources, Sweden, which is taken over the EU Presidency on Wednesday, aims to open at least two more chapters to negotiations in 2009.
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-- MIDNIGHT TENSION FOR GENERALS
The midnight amendment in Parliament on the Code of Penal Procedures which put the government at odds with the opposition, cleared doubts in the jural process for generals and admirals, against whom there may be evidence suggesting their involvement in a military coup plot. While under the Ergenekon probe only colonels and junior officers could be arrested, taken into custody, interrogated, and/or their homes and offices searched, the new amendment would allow the same actions be implemented against generals and admirals.

VATAN
-- TWO CRITICAL ISSUES ON PREMIER-GENERAL SUMMIT       Â

Turkish Premier Tayyip Erdogan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug held a meeting on Monday. It was reported that Basbug conveyed information and intelligence to the premier over an alleged anti-government plot document. The two were also said to have discussed an amended law which would pave the way for military personnel to stand trial before civilian courts. After the meeting National Intelligence Agency Director Emre Taner went to the General Staff Headquarters upon an order from Erdogan. Taner and Basbug were said to have had a tete-a-tete meeting first before joining other general for a separate meeting.       Â

-- GUL SAYS MAY RETURN LAW ON CIVILAN TRIAL OF MILITARY PERSONNEL IF NEED BE
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Monday he might return the law that would allow civilian courts to try military personnel if such a need arose. "I do not preside over an institution where I take my decisions according to a political ideology. We are assessing legal issues very thoroughly and carefully. The law might be approved or it might be returned to Parliament for re-consideration," Gul said.
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-- GOVERNMENT TO CUT DOWN ON RED TAPE
the Turkish government has moved to reduce the red tape in public services, a government spokesman said Monday. Citizens would no longer be asked to produce forms in over 420 official procedures. Public notary registers and criminal record sheets would not be sought either for 215 procedures.
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CUMHURIYET
-- 9 OFFICERS DID NOT SHOW UP TO TESTIFY
Colonel Dursun Cicek, who has allegedly signed the "Action Plan for Fight against Reactionary Movement" and eight officers whose names are involved in the Ergenekon probe, did not show up in court to give their testimony on Monday. The prosecutor office conducting the investigation had summoned Colonel Cicek to give his testimony following the non-jurisdiction and non-suit decision of the military prosecutor's office. The prosecutor's office had also summoned the eight other officers to give their testimonies in connection with a search conducted at a Military College. The nine officers are expected to testify before the court on Tuesday.
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-- HANDWRITING OF LIU. COL DONMEZ WILL BE EXAMINED
The Military Court ruled for a probe into whether the handwriting on a map allegedly found at the residence of Lieutenant Colonel Donmez --who is standing trial in connection with an underground weapons and explosives cache recovered in the Zir valley-- belongs to him or not. The Military Police Officers present during the search of the residence of Donmez will also testify in the case. While Donmez said, "This operation was carried out by police. The National Intelligence Agency may also have been involved in it," his lawyer accused the Police Department of manufacturing evidence.
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RADIKAL
-- DONMEZ JUST LIKE A CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR: "I HAVE NEVER EVEN HELD A GUN IN MY LIFE"
Yarbay Donmez, arrested as part of the Ergenekon probe, said during the court hearing of the case filed by the Military Prosecutor's Office that the map leading to an underground weapons cache in the Zir Valley did not belong to him, and had not examined thoroughly. The map was sent to the forensics department. The personnel who took part in a search of Donmez’s home will also testify. Donmez, who pointed out the contradictions in the police report regarding the search in the Zir valley, said: "I have never even held a gun in my life. When my friends came to my summer house in Sapanca to hunt boars, I would ask them not to kill those living things. How could I have planned an assassination against the prime minister?"
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-- TURK-IS LABOR UNION CALLS FOR STRIKE
While collective bargaining for public services is about to conclude, Turk-Is labor union which is demanding a 20 percent raise for salaries, announced they would launch sit-down strikes in front of work places if their demands were not met.Â

YENI SAFAK
-- AMENDMENT MADE FOR EU HARMONIZATION, NOT INTENDED FOR COLONEL CICEK
During Monday's meeting between Premier Tayyip Erdogan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, the amendment allowing the trial of soldiers involved in military coup plots by civil courts, was discussed. The amendment was not intended for Col. Dursun Cicek but was part of the country’s harmonization with EU norms, sources said. The meeting, which was held at the request of Basbug on the eve of today's National Security Council gathering, lasted 95 minutes. Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, who came to the Prime Ministry in Erdogan's official car, did not attend the meeting. Erdogan reacted harshly to suggestions the amendment was against the Turkish Armed Forces, and was not sympathetic to calls for the withdrawal or proposals for changes to the law that he said he is determined to see implemented.
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-- MEDIA CAME, COLONEL DID NOT SHOW UP
Colonel Dursun Cicek, who allegedly drafted the "Action Plan with Reactionary Movements" and was summoned by Ergenekon prosecutors to for questioning, did not arrive at court. A large number of live-broadcast vehicles waited outside the court house for the colonel to arrive.