GOOD MORNING --TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAR 10

HURRIYET

-- SECRET WAR AT PATRIARCHATE

Big strife at Istanbul Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. Patriarch Bartholomew launched a surprising operation at the patriarchate and it was kept secret. He kicked out two metropolitans from the patriarchate's administration as they wanted to become patriarch.
       Â
-- 90 BLN USD OF WATER MARKET

Ahmet Ozal, who was taken into custody and brought to Edirne from Istanbul within the scope of a fraud investigation, said, "3,000 municipalities will sell their rights on water. That makes a 90 billion
 USD of water market." "Government is getting ready to establish a water ministry. Global and giant companies have taken action to get these rights that are possessed by local administrations at the moment. Companies asked me to help them convince huge capital groups," Ozal said.
       Â

MILLIYET

-- ECHR'S RELIGIOUS COURSE EXPECTATION

The president of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said Turkey has abided by all ECHR decisions so far, when commenting on obligatory religious course in Turkey, and expressed an expectation with a diplomatic style. Last fall, the court made an important decision upon an application of an Alawite family, and ruled that Turkey violated the freedom of education with the obligatory religious course. It said the "contents" of the religious course breach the European Convention on Human Rights. ECHR President Jean-Paul Costa said it is now the duty of the Chairmanship Committee of the Council of Europe whether or not to monitor this decision is implemented. On the other hand, Costa said they may re-examine the headscarf case. "We will see whether the (constitutional) amendments (in Turkey) require a change in our ruling regarding Leyla Sahin (who earlier filed a headscarf lawsuit)."
       Â
-- PLAN TO ASSASSINATE ERDOGAN

Police got a tip-off that some circles were planning to assassinate PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Istanbul, and took into custody three DHKP-C members four days ago. Police seized the details of the assassination plan in a raid on a cell house in Kucukcekmece. Accordingly, the suspects were planning to blow off a bomb they planted in a remote-control toy car when Erdogan got to his house in Uskudar. Benefitting from the chaotic atmosphere caused by the blast, the suspects were planning to assassinate Erdogan by attacking on his convoy.
       Â

SABAH

-- KURDISH PACKAGE IN DIYARBAKIR

A long time adviser to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told that Erdogan will announce a "Kurdish package" in south-eastern province of Diyarbakir on Sunday, April 6th. "PM Erdogan will make important announcements on April 6th. Erdogan will make announcements on Kurdish culture and Kurdish language. Erdogan would say that Turkey entered the process for a solution," noted Erdogan's adviser.
       Â
-- FISHERMEN'S CITY ISTANBUL BECOMES PLACE OF BILLIONAIRES

Once a city of fishermen, Istanbul has become a place for billionaires, said The Times newspaper. Istanbul is the fourth richest city in the world with 34 billionaires living in it. After having gone through an economic crisis seven years ago, Istanbul has become an attractive center for foreign investors. "Real estate prices tripled in the past five years in Istanbul."

VATAN

-- EITHER SHOW EVIDENCE OR SHUT UP!

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded for the last time to the criticisms that Turkey withdrew from Iraq upon U.S. demand. "If the Chief of General Staff says 'I will take my uniform off' and if the Prime Minister says 'I will take the political clothing off', you either show an evidence or shut up," he told. Erdogan said, "unfortunately, such a meaningless discussion which started before our troops reached their headquarters, is overshadowing our accomplishment. I do not see any national interest in insisting on this discussion."
       Â
-- BOMB ATTACK PLAN WITH A TOY CAR

Police arrested three DHKP-C terrorists in Istanbul. They were planning bomb attacks against U.S. companies by using remote-control toy cars. It has been learned that the terrorist organization can turn the remote-control of toy cars into a bomb trigger since police can block cell phone signals by jammer.
       Â

CUMHURIYET

-- KURDS DIVIDED

Intelligence assessment report said that Turkish Armed Forces' cross-border military operation into north of Iraq was very successful. According to the report, operation had been planned 45 days before it started. Here are significant results of the operation according to the report:
-Kurdish administration was divided, mutual accusations have started in the terrorist administration.
-The thinking of 'Turkey can not enter Iraq that is under control of the United States' was over.
-A crisis of confidence emerged between PKK administration and Abdullah Ocalan, head of terrorists.
-Control of the leadership, with the average age over 40, has weakened.
-Barzani lost his hopes to find support in Turkey and develop policies.
-Terrorist organization could not find support at demonstrations it staged in Turkey.
-This operation revealed that the operations should continue.
       Â

-- TURKISH DELEGATION TO MEET BARZANI

Jalal Talabani gave the first signal of a four-party mechanism among Ankara, Washington, Baghdad and Irbil, which would include regional Kurdish administration. Iraqi President asked Turkey to upgrade its level of talks with the Kurdish administration in the north of Iraq, and Ankara did not say "no". Next step following Talabani's visit to Turkey will most likely be an invitation to Nechirvan Barzani for a visit to Ankara. Azad Cundiyani, one of Talabani's advisers, said a Turkish delegation would meet Nechirvan Barzani in Baghdad next week.
       Â

RADIKAL

-- 301 WAITING FOR HEADSCARF

After having declared 2008 as the year of the European Union, Justice and Development (AK) Party has still not taken a step on Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code which makes insulting Turkishness a crime. Most political experts believe that AK Party will take steps on Article 301 once the issue of headscarf is resolved.
       Â
-- SYMPOSIUM FOR COOPERATION AGAINST TERROR

Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit will deliver a keynote speech at a symposium titled "Global Terrorism and International Cooperation-II" to be organized by the Command of Center of Excellence Defense Against Terrorism in Ankara on Monday. The first of such a symposium took place in Ankara two years ago.

YENI SAFAK

-- EXPO LOBBYING TOUR TO IZMIR

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a meeting in Aegean province of Izmir to mark the joining of 3,000 people in the Justice & Development (AK) Party. There were also former mayors of Izmir among these 3,000 people who were elected from the Republican People's Party (CHP). In the meeting, Erdogan told his party to "win Izmir" in the local elections. On the cross-border operation, Erdogan said, "nobody should make politics over the army. The opposition has to take us as an interlocutor."
       Â
-- CINE 5 TO BE SOLD

Turkish Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) will sell four TV channels and six radio stations that belonged to Erol Aksoy Group. Among them are Cine 5, Supersport TV, Gala TV and Show Radyo. The Cine 5 and Radyo 5 have an estimated value of 80 million USD, while the estimated value of other TV channels and radio stations are between 25,000 USD and 4 million USD. The final bids will be collected on March 21st.
       Â
-- WE ALL ATE AT MCDONALD'S IN 2007

McDonald's Turkey DG Sadi Fansa said their company grew 3.5-folds in  2007. "180,000 people visited our restaurants a day in 2007," he told.