GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAR 29

HURRIYET
--GREAT SORROW IN BBP
There was a great sorrow in headquarters of the Grand Unity Party (BBP) after getting the news that body of their leader Muhsin Yazicioglu was found. Bodies of Yazicioglu and other four people were taken from the mountain and brought to southern province of Kahramanmaras. Yazicioglu will be brought to Ankara on Sunday and a funeral ceremony will be held in the Parliament on Tuesday.

--WHO ARE WE ELECTING?
A total of 48,006,650 electors will go to ballot boxes today to elect mayors of 16 major cities, 65 provinces, and 892 towns. Those who are elected will be in office for 5 years.

--VISA SUMMIT FOR TURKEY
Following the decision of the European Court of Justice that visa could not be required from citizens of Turkey, this issue constituted the main topic of the Turkey-EU relations. European Parliament will take up the matter in its 2-day meeting next week. European Commission will assume a formal stance in April. High ranking executives will attend visa summit scheduled for April 22.

MILLIYET
--"ROJ TV" MOVE, FROM DENMARK
Following Turkey's objection to Danish Premier Anders Rasmussen's appointment as NATO SG, a rather interesting incident took place. According to Danish News Agency Ritzau, Denmark is getting ready to send two senior prosecutors to discuss shutting down ROJ TV, terrorist organisation PKK's media organ.

--IHA REPORTER GUNES MISSING
After 47 hours of intense efforts, rescue teams reached the bodies of Grand Unity Party  (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazicioglu, three BBP executives and the pilot of the helicopter which crashed in  Kahramanmaras. IHA reporter Ismail Gunes could not be found in the crash site. Gunes who had told that his leg was broken over the emergency hotline, is believed to have left the crash site. Rescue efforts are still underway in the area which is covered with 2 meters of snow.

SABAH
--THEIR FACE TURNED INTO PURPLE
The villager Alaaddin Akpinar, who first found the wreckage of the helicopter, said "we could hardly see because of the blizzard and heavy fog. We found a wreckage near the rock. There was thick snow on the helicopter and the bodies. Their faces turned into purple because of snow and ice. We saw that one of those inside the helicopter died with one of his hand on his face. Four bodies were inside the helicopter and one was under the helicopter."

--LAST WARNING FROM USA TO PKK
U.S. Ambassador James Jeffrey spoke clearly and said PKK was source of uneasiness, violence terrorism and instability in the region. We will discuss with the Turkish government what we can do more if military, political and legal measures are not sufficient enough to deal with PKK.

--OTTOMAN MOSQUES ARE BEING REPAIRED IN NEIGHBORING COUNTRY
Greek Culture Ministry took Ottoman works of art under preservation. Mosques and tombs restored with the EU funds are turned into museum.

VATAN
--NATO MOVE WORKED
Danish Premier Anders Rasmussen who had not even moved a finger about Roj tv for four years, took action following Turkey's threat to veto his appointment as NATO SG. Rasmussen suddenly sent two senior prosecutors to Ankara to discuss shutting down Roj tv, terrorist organisation PKK's broadcasting organ. Turkey has been exerting efforts to shut down Roj tv for four years, but was not getting any results. Because of Roj tv, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan had cancelled a joint press conference with Rasmussen, during a visit to this country in 2005.

Erdogan who spoke to Rasmussen over the phone on Friday said Turkey would object to his appointment as NATO SG, because he had been insensitive to the crisis which broke out due to a cartoon about Prophet Mohammed and did not cooperate regarding Roj tv. Rasmussen has to get Turkey's approval in order to become NATO SG.

--WE LOST FOR NOTHING
Turkish National Soccer Team put up a fight against 2008's European Champion Spain, which went undefeated for 29 matches. But a single mistake put our chances of advancing to the 2010 Word Cup finals, in jeopardy.

Turkey made a good beginning to the game in Bernabeu stadium. If it weren't for the goalie Casillas, we would have taken the lead with two goals in the first 10 minutes. Later in the game, Spain came back and, with a goal by Pique, in the 60th minute, it prevented us from getting the one point we deserved. Because Bosnia Hersigovina which defeated Belgium with a score of 4-2, advanced to the second place in the group, Turkey has to win against Spain next Wednesday.

CUMHURIYET
--TURKEY MAY PLAY "SPECIAL ROLE"
Retired General James Jones, the National security adviser of the U.S. President Barack Obama, said Turkey made important military and economic contributions in Afghanistan and could assume an important role in the region. Jones told a news conference that leadership role of Turkey in the next steps were of critical importance.

--HIS BROTHER IDENTIFIES
Bodies of Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazicioglu and four people accompanying him, who lost their lives in helicopter crash near Goksun town of southern province of Kahramanmaras, could be found on Saturday. Yusuf Yazicioglu, brother of Muhsin Yazicioglu, identified him. BBP executives said bodies would be sent to Ankara on Sunday.

RADIKAL
--ELECTORS WILL SAY THE LAST WORD
48.6 million citizens are going to ballot boxes to elect their local administrators who will be in office for the next five years. 19 political parties are competing in the elections.

--A NEW VISA DECISION
A businessman in Germany got residence permit based on the law dated 1927. EU executive Lagendijk said visa should not be asked from those who come from Turkey for business, tourism and health. He said European Commission should take initiatives.

--FIVE BODIES TAKEN
Bodies of five of the six people, who were in the helicopter that crashed on Wednesday, could be taken after 70 hours. Efforts are still underway to find journalist Ismail Gunes, who was also in the helicopter.

YENI SAFAK
--PARLIAMENT TO INQUIRE HELICOPTER CRASH
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who expressed his deep grief over loss of Muhsin Yazicioglu, said he had ordered an inquiry on the helicopter crash. Erdogan said that rescue efforts did not bear the desired results adding that they decided to launch an parliamentary inquiry to assess additional measures. "Our friends will submit the proposal on Monday," said Erdogan.

--TURKEY WILL WIN RETURN MATCH IN ISTANBUL
Turkey's National Soccer Team lost against European Champion Spain with one goal. Turkey which challenged its opponent, which went undefeated for 29 games in a row. Turkey conceded a goal to Pique in the 60th minute, due to a momentary mistake of the defense. Turkish National team played well and inspired hope for the return match in Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul.
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