GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JUNE 9

HURRIYET
-- POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE
Leftist and liberal parties in Britain, Germany, Spain, Austria and Portugal were rocked by the election of new members of the European Parliament. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who mentioned the possibility of "privileged partnership" for Turkey in their election campaign, emerged from elections much stronger.
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-- FOUR POLITICIANS OF TURKISH DESCENT ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT
The election of new members of the European Parliament was neither successful for people of Turkish origin. Only four politicians of Turkish descent have joined the parliament. Two of them are from Bulgaria, one from Germany and the other from the Netherlands.
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-- VISA WALL WORN THROUGH
Germany became the first EU nation to implement the "social decision" of the European Court of Justice that paved the way Turkish nationals to travel to Europe without a visa. According to European Union, or EU, laws, it is now time for ten other countries, in addition to Germany, to lift the visa obligation.
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MILLIYET
-- FOGGY CURVE ON ROAD TO EU
The European Union took an important turn loaded with questions. The message that emerged from the European Parliament elections held to determine the 736 MPs, bears importance for Turkey. Besides the Christian Democrats which won 263 seats, parties with radical right tendencies were successful in France, Belgium, Austria, Slovakia, Italy, Bulgaria and Denmark. These results strengthened the hand of figures like Angela Merkel and Nicholas Sarkozy, who propose “privileged partnership” to Turkey rather than full EU membership.
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-- BABACAN ESTIMATES NEGATIVE GROWTH TO EXCEED 3.6 PERCENT
Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said the growth rate for 2009 could be negative, possibly more than minus 3.6 percent. Babacan who pointed out that all countries in the world except a few closed economies were affected by the crisis, said that this tendency would affect Turkey. Babacan said specific tax reductions and value added tax relating to selected items would continue and that other rates could also be adjusted.
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SABAH
-- "WE ARE HOPEFUL ABOUT END OF THIS YEAR"
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that it would be wrong to say that Turkey had totally overcome the economic crisis. Appearing on "Agenda with Prime Minister" program on private ATV channel, Erdogan said that Turkey was still in the minus figures right now, however automotive and home sales were on the rise. "The revival will begin in the last quarter of this year," he said. Erdogan also said, "We are a country that is hopeful about overcoming the crisis by the end of this year."
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-- "I WAS ABOUT TO GIVE APPOINTMENT TO DTP, HOWEVER..."
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that he has considered meeting members of the Democratic Society Party, or DTP, regarding the Kurdish issue. Erdogan said, "However, ten soldiers were killed immediately after I considered giving them an appointment. Put yourself in my place. They have never called the separatist terrorist organization a 'terrorist organization'. They have always advocated them. They are not helping the process."

VATAN
-- RACISTS, ONLY THING THAT LACK
The socialists who want Turkey to join the European Union, or EU, regressed in Europe. The Christian Democrats that state, "Turkey cannot join the EU" became the leading party in the European Parliament election. Racist parties have gained the right to establish a group in parliament for the first time.
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-- IT IS EARLY TO SAY WE HAVE SEEN WORST
State Minister Ali Babacan drew a pessimistic picture in describing the effects of the global crisis, and sent a general warning. Babacan said, "We are expecting minus 3.6 percent growth this year. We will see a worse figure by the end of this year." Babacan also said that Turkey's budget would give a primary surplus for the first time in years, and the year-end debt burden would be slightly higher than last year's. Babacan said, "It will take some time for unemployment figures to return former levels."      �
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CUMHURIYET
-- CHP'S ANADOL CALLS ON PREMIER: "MAKE PUBLIC SECRET ACCORDS, IF THERE ARE ANY"
Kemal Anadol, a lawmaker from the main opposition Republican People Party, or CHP, pointed out that "there was no such thing" as international secret agreements in the Constitution, and all agreements took effect after being ratified by the Turkish Parliament. "We are urging the prime minister to declare any secret agreements that were signed. Especially, the agreements signed with Israel," said Anadol.
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-- TAX CUTS HAD A MINOR EFFECT ON INDUSTRY
Though, the year-on-year industrial production in April declined by 18.5 percent, indicators showed limited signs of recovery compared to March 2009. With cuts in special taxes and value added tax, the industrial production index in April showed a 1.4 percent increase compared to the previous month.
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RADIKAL
-- BABACAN PESSIMISTIC ON ECONOMY
Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said the growth rate for 2009 could be lower than the estimated negative growth rate of 3.6 percent. Babacan, who pointed out that developments in the world would affect Turkey, mentioned the IMF projections: the world economy will shrink by 1.3 percent and global trade will contract by 11 percent. "There are indicators suggest the negative tendency is slowing down; however, it is too early yet to say that we have seen the worst. It is necessary to closely monitor the developments for a few more months -- we should continue with caution. With or without the IMF, we are considering what is necessary. We are working on a medium term program," said Babacan.
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-- AKP SHOWS REACTION TO CHIEF PROSECUTOR
State Minister Hayati Yazici criticized Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya. "Everybody should act in compliance with the laws. Especially, judges -- prosecutors should not publicly state their opinions," said Yazici.

YENI SAFAK
-- "THAT MEETING WAS A TURNING POINT"
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said his meeting with retired general Yasar Buyukanit at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul was a turning point in military-civilian relations. Responding to questions during a TV program, Erdogan said that he would not make public details of his meeting with former chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit "until the end of time."
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-- BANKS RECORD 30 P.C. PROFIT DESPITE CRISIS
Tevfik Bilgin, the chairman of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency, or BDDK, said that the Turkish banking industry's profit rose 30 percent in the first four months of 2009, compared to the same period of 2008. Bilgin said the banking industry increased its profit from to 7.2 billion Turkish liras, or TL, from 5.5 billion TL during the period. (One USD is equal to 1.57 TL)