GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAY 21

HURRIYET

--FEAR OF DICTATORSHIP

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) chairman, Devlet Bahceli said, "Justice and Development Party (AKP) attempts to put under control constitutional and democratic rights through a dictatorship fed by fear." Referring to claims that Osman Paksut, deputy chief judge of the Constitutional Court, has been tapped, Bahceli said the ruling AKP had been trying to stir fear of a dictatorship. Speaking at a group meeting of the MHP in parliament, Bahceli said the closure case filed against the ruling AKP weakened the management of the government that was already mishandled.

--REPRESENTATIVES FROM 30 COUNTRIES IN GAZIANTEP

A total of 800 companies from 30 countries will attend the 3rd International Iraq Fair in the southeastern province of Gaziantep, opening May 22-25. The fair will be a meeting point for numerous businessmen from Europe, Africa, Far East and the Middle East.

 

MILLIYET

--367 CAN BE BASIS FOR A THIRD WAY

Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan, who caused discussions with his words stating that the Constitutional Court could ease the situation in Turkey by finding a third way in the closure case, said "the decision on the 'quorum of 367 deputies' could be the basis of a formula to be developed."

Toptan also said the Constitutional Court could create great precedents that would establish its country's future.

--NATIONAL TEAM WINS AT FIRST REHEARSAL

Turkey's national football team, which is preparing for Euro 2008, played an enterprising game against Slovakia in a friendly match in Germany. Turkey defeated Slovakia 1-0.

 

SABAH

--CREDIT CARD INTERESTS LIMITED

Authorities have pushed the button to limit the interest rates on credit card debts. The rate is currently set at 78 percent. Ahmet Iyimaya, chairman of the Parliamentary Justice Committee, said that they would try to bring the rate closer to consumer loan rate. The consumer loan rate which is 24 percent. The new arrangement will also prevent paying credit card debts with another credit card. The credit card limits will not be over four-folds of that person's income. If a person exceeds the credit card limit, s/he cannot get a new credit card or consumer loan.

--TURKEY IS A NEIGHBORING COUNTRY, WE ENSURED GROWTH HERE

Danone World's President Franck Riboud said that Turkey was an important market for the company. Riboud attended the inauguration of a dairy facility in Luleburgaz on the occasion of celebrations for the 10th anniversary of Danone Tikvesli. "We have ensured growth here, and Turkey can be seen as our neighboring country now," he also said.

 

VATAN

--SHE SHAKES BOSPHORUS

Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue amazed 10,000 fans at Istanbul's Kurucesme Arena. Getting a full mark for her costumes and dance, Kylie said after her first song what a beautiful view she had, voicing her admiration of Istanbul and the Bosporus. During the concert, she asked in Turkish if everybody was having fun, and the audience shouted, "yes."

--"DEMOCRACY AND SECULARISM WILL BE STRENGTHENED"

On the closure case against the ruling AKP, Constitutional Court chief judge Hasim Kilic said Turkey's democracy, secularism and judiciary would come out of the process stronger whatever the decision was. "Believe me, what I am saying is not only a wish," he also said.

 

CUMHURIYET

--INTERESTING WORDS FROM KILIC

Replying to a question on "when the headscarf case would be put on the court's agenda", the Constitutional Court’s Chief Judge Hasim Kilic said he would first learn about the thoughts of his friends, then he would include the issue in the agenda.
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Kilic's words were interpreted as the meeting on the issue might be postponed.

--YOUNG PIANIST'S BIG SUCCESS

Ceren Su Sahin, a student at Bilkent University's primary school, was ranked first at the "3rd Mozart International Piano Competition" in Italy. Sahin previously won the "Special Jury Award" at last year's "Vienna Young Pianists" competition.

 

RADIKAL

--SECOND DAY IN SMOKING BAN

The second day of the extensive smoking ban in enclosed areas such as taxis, ferries and shopping malls ended without many complaints.

The Health Ministry warned that smoking was also banned on balconies of places of business. If workers take frequent smoking breaks, this can be considered lost labor.

--CENSURE MOTION REJECTED

Turkey's parliament rejected a censure motion against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in regard to the sale of ATV-Sabah to the Calik Group. The motion was submitted last week by Republican People's Party (CHP) to the Parliament Speaker's Office against Premier Erdogan on the grounds of his alleged interference in the tender for the sale of ATV-Sabah and abusing his authority on behalf of a group.

 

YENI SAFAK

--FIRST COMMENT FROM KILIC

Constitutional Court Chief Judge Hasim Kilic spoke for the first time about the dissolution case (filed against the ruling AKP). Kilic said when this process ends that Turkish democracy and secularism would have a stronger structure.

--BRITAIN APPROVES WORK PERMIT APPLICATION MADE UNDER ANKARA AGREEMENT

Britain's Consulate General in Istanbul approved a residence and work permit application from Turkey made under the Ankara Agreement. The application made by London-based Kuddus Solicitors for Turkish citizen Gurbuz Sanatci was approved by the Britain's Consulate General in Istanbul.