GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAR 26

HURRIYET

-- SUMMIT FOR CALM AT CANKAYA PALACE

Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Speaker of Turkish Parliament Koksal Toptan had lunch together on Tuesday at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. The two leaders discussed in detail what could be done to "soften tense political atmosphere" and the role to be assumed by the media during this period. Gul warned Toptan that political parties must be more careful when making statements. "Certain remarks made by Turkish political parties do have a negative impact on the Turkish society," Gul noted. Gul requested Toptan to help restore calm in Turkey.
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-- SOUTHWESTER HITS TURKEY

Heavy southwester in western regions of Turkey damaged roofs of hundreds of homes and caused delays in sea transportation. While Uludag began receiving snow on Tuesday, 115 homes in Istanbul got damaged due to the southwester.
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MILLIYET

-- CIVILIAN CALL

Seven NGOs representing around 50 million people in Turkey will make a call for common sense saying, "we are polarizing, and we are concerned." Among them are the Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Turkish Confederation of Public Laborers' Unions (Kamu-Sen), Turkish Confederation of Labor (Turk-Is), Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen & Craftsmen (TESK), Moral Rights Workers Union (Hak-Is), Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK) and Turkish Agricultural Chambers' Union (TZOB). Seven NGOs headed by TOBB will make their historic joint statement in 81 provinces at 9:30 a.m. Speaking to the Milliyet, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said they will not only call for common sense but also propose a way out.
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-- SURPRISE CANDIDATE FOR CHP

Umut Oran, a businessman in textile industry, told the Milliyet that he has decided to run his candidacy for Republican People's Party (CHP) chairmanship. The CHP convention will take place on April 26th-27th. Born in 1963, Oran began his business life at the Koc Holding, and then established his own company "Domino Tekstil". He opened a factory in Bolu "to create employment in Anatolia" and is employing 600 workers. Umut Oran was elected the chairman of Turkish Clothing Industrialists' Association in 2002. Oran is known for his contributions to NGO's efforts and back-stage contributions to the CHP. "I have set out. I am now in politics and this will be a long journey," he told. Oran has to win votes of 20 percent of 1,213 CHP delegates in the convention in order to run his candidacy.
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SABAH

-- MINES IN CYPRUS TO BE SWEEPED

One of the key issues in Cyprus was the demolition of the Lokmaci (Ledra) barricade, often described as the "Berlin Wall of Cyprus". The two sides in Cyprus reached an agreement to re-open the Lokmaci border pass for crossings. Accordingly, all mines in the region will be swept. Buildings around Lokmaci border pass will be renovated.
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-- CALL FOR COMMON SENSE

After the warning of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) that Turkey is rapidly getting polarized, seven Turkish NGOs are preparing to make a call for "common sense". Rifat
 Hisarciklioglu, chairman of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, told that "unfortunately, Turkey is heading towards a polarization".

 VATAN

-- TOPTAN WARNS AK PARTY OFFICIALS

Speaker of Turkish Parliament Koksal Toptan received a group of AK Party officials on Tuesday. "I support the notion that the closure of political parties in Turkey must be made a tougher process," Toptan
 said. "However, this is not the right time to make constitutional amendments. AK Party should not make constitutional amendments at a time when there is political tension in the country," Toptan warned.
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-- TURKEY TO GET BURNED IN 2070

A report prepared under the directives of Turkish Meteorology Department indicates that temperatures all across Turkey will increase by six degrees on the average. Rainfall in western Turkey will drop by 40
 percent in the year 2070. The Black Sea and eastern regions will witness an increase in rain and snowfall in 2070.
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CUMHURIYET

-- SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM TO BE IMPLEMENTED PARTIALLY

Unions resisted to the social security bill for a long time, however they remained silent and accepted it in the last minute. Workers will suffer many losses due to the bill, including retirement age. Some of
 the articles of the bill will take effect in May, and some others at a later date.
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-- BIG STROKE ON TERRORIST ORGANIZATION IN BESTA

Guards of Fehman Huseyin, the top member of the so-called military wing of the terrorist organization PKK, and Abdulkerim Ertas, a member of the so-called military council of the terrorist organization, were among the nine terrorists killed in operations in Cudi, Besta and Gabar regions of southeastern province of Sirnak on March 12th.
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RADIKAL

-- ERDOGAN ANGRY AT EVERY ONE INCLUDING BAHCELI

During his visit to Sarajevo, PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave messages about the Operation Ergenekon and closure case against his Justice & Development (AK) Party. Erdogan criticized columnist Ilhan Selcuk, who asked him to give a "message of compromise", and accused Devlet Bahceli, the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Erdogan said, "he was speaking differently before, and he is speaking differently now." On constitutional amendment and amendments to the law on political parties, Erdogan said, "we would make them any way."
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-- NGOs ONE VOICE: WE DO NOT WANT ROW

Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen & Craftsmen (TESK), Turkish Agricultural Chambers' Union (TZOB), Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK), Turkish Confederation of Public Laborers' Unions (Kamu-Sen), Turkish Confederation of Labor (Turk-Is) and Moral Rights Workers Union (Hak-Is) will make a call for "common sense" on Wednesday. The NGOs will make a joint press release in 81 provinces at the same time. This will be the NGO meeting in Turkey with the largest participation.

YENI SAFAK

-- CALL FOR COMMON SENSE

The biggest employer, employee and civil servant unions have called for an end to tension affecting the society and markets. The statement will be made public on Wednesday. Chairmen of seven NGOs will meet in Istanbul to announce their statement. Also, head of the branches of these NGOs in 81 provinces will make a common press statement at the same time. Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the chairman of the Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), said Turkey needs common sense and moderation more than anytime today in order to maintain its growth and development. "Closing political parties easily harms Turkish democracy," he told.
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-- PRESIDENTIAL PALACE AND PARLIAMENT ALSO INTERVENE

Political tension also made President Abdullah Gul to take action. Gul had a lunch with Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan at the Presidential Palace and "call for common sense" came out from this meeting.
Authorities will wait PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan to return from his tour to the Balkans in order to activate the consensus between the Presidential Palace and the Parliament.