GOOD MORNING --TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAR 12

HURRIYET

-- ERDOGAN: THEY ARE LYING Â

Unions all across Turkey will have their members leave work for two hours on Friday to protest the draft law on Social Security. Meanwhile, Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized those who are against the Social Security draft law. "They are not acting honestly. They are lying. Rights gained will be preserved under the Social Security laws. Nothing will be taken away from any one. On the contrary, the status of workers will improve with the new Social Security laws," Erdogan stressed.Â

-- PKK'S ANNUAL INCOME 500 MILLION EUROS

Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ergin Saygun indicated Tuesday terrorist organization PKK's annual income is around 500 million euros. "PKK earns 200-250 million euros from drug trafficking. 100-150 million euros come from smuggling illegal materials. 15-20 million euros come from donations while 20-25 million euros come from other activities," Gen. Saygun remarked.
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MILLIYET

-- BEYOGLU JUST GROWS TALLER

Unlicensed construction work in Istanbul's Beyoglu has changed the silhouette of the historical district just over last four years. As if the district has grown taller as a number of hotel buildings there has constructed additional storeys without having the permit. For instance, the Green Park Hotel is eleven storeys while it has a license for just nine. Grand Oztanik Hotel is 3.5 storeys higher than it was supposed to be, with 11 storeys. Chairman of a Turkish cultural and natural watchdog says the area is a protected site and expresses wonder how these hotels were granted work permits.

-- TOP ADMINISTRATIVE COURT ORDERS STAY OF EXECUTION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION CHIEF'S DECREE

Turkey's top administrative court ruled Tuesday that Prof. Yusuf Ziya Ozcan, chairman of the Higher Board of Education, had overstepped his powers when he sent a decree to rectors to allow female students wear headscarves at universities without waiting an additional legal arrangement to the constitutional amendments to articles 10 and 42 of the Constitution. The Council of State qualified the decree as "an unlawful order" and ruled unanimously for a stay of execution.
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SABAH

-- NEW PROCESS IN ANKARA

State doors which have been closed to Democratic Society Party (DTP) for months are now opening one after another. DTP members held meeting with President Abdullah Gul yesterday after their meetings with Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan and State Minister Cemil Cicek. The door was opened by Toptan two days ago. Toptan warned DTP,  "unitarian structure of state will be protected. You shall put a distance between the party and the terrorist organization. Otherwise, the process will not soften." On the other hand, DTP said, "Constitutional freedom shall be extended, local governing shall be strengthened, and cultural rights shall be given." DTP members met President Gul yesterday.
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-- LESS TANKER PASSED, STRAIT BREATHED
Inauguration of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline reduced the burden of Bogazici Strait. 100 less tankers passed through the Strait last year. The decrease speeded up this year. 200 less tankers passed through the Strait in 2008.

VATAN

-- COUNCIL OF STATE SAID "STOP" TO HEADSCARF FOR NOW

Council of State decided that a decree --which was sent by Higher Board of Education (YOK) Chairman Yusuf Ziya Ozcan to rectors to allow female students wear headscarves at universities-- is invalid. Council of State stressed that Ozcan does not have the authority to make arrangements alone; the authority is on YOK General Board.
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-- GATES SPOKE NEW MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM IN ANKARA

Pentagon stated that U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates --during his recent visit to Turkey-- discussed the new missile defense system of the United States with President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
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CUMHURIYET

-- ERDOGAN LASHES OUT AT CRITICS SOCIAL SECURITY BILL

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly reacted Tuesday to critics of a draft law on social security system, accusing them of "acting insincerely and lying." "Turkey cannot afford delaying social security reform any further, it cannot carry this burden any longer," Erdogan said. Meanwhile, head of a workers' union said the government was attacking pension and health care rights, which he qualified as the "twin towers" for the workers. "Civil servants, workers and pensioners are not liars," said Suleyman Celebi, chairman of the DISK.
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-- U.S. PRESSED FOR MISILLE SYSTEM IN TURKEY

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has discussed missile defense system with Turkish officials during his meetings in capital Ankara late February, said Geoff Morrell, a Pentagon spokesman, on Tuesday. Morrell also said anybody in the Defense Department did not propose any negotiations with the terrorist organization. "I just want to reiterate this notion that in no way is anybody in this department advocating that we sit down and negotiate with terrorists," he said.
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RADIKAL

-- HE NOW BEGAN A FIGHT WITH WORKERS

Turkish Prime Minister strongly criticized those against the Social Security draft law. "They are speaking without reading the draft law. All rights gained are not being lost due to the Social Security draft law," Erdogan noted. Erdogan got angry at unions planning to protest the Social Security draft law.
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-- 200 FILMS

The 27th Istanbul Film Festival will kick off on April 5th and continue until April 20th. 200 films will be shown to cinema fans during the festival. A special tribute will be made to "flower children" of 1968 in Istanbul.

YENI SAFAK

-- AMERICA'S SHADOW PRESIDENT DUE IN TURKEY

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney is set to visit Turkey on March 16 as part of his prospective Middle Eastern tour. Cheney will hold high level talks in capital Ankara and he is expected to bring up issues such as U.S. missile defense system, oil prices, Iraq's north and the terrorist PKK as well as Iran. Cheney last visited Turkey in 2003 just before start of the war in Iraq.
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-- FORD OTOSAN EXPORTS LEADER OF 2007

Ford Automotive Industry Corp. (Otosan) became the leader of export in Turkish automotive sector in 2007. Ford Otosan exported 222,395 vehicles and earned 3.4 billion USD in 2007. The company has a share of 16.8 percent in domestic sales market, and it has become the leader of the automotive sector for the sixth consecutive time. Ford Otosan increased the production by 11 percent to 286,356 vehicles in 2007. It exported 78 percent of those motor vehicles (222,395 vehicles) abroad.