GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAY 22

HURRIYET

--WARNING FOR INSIDE AND OUT

President's Committee of the Supreme Court of Appeals issued a statement and lashed out at accusations made from inside and out. The statement said the closure case was a corporate case and supported the chief prosecutor, Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya who filed the lawsuit.

"The defendants and their supporters ignored the fact that the indictment was institutional, and they attempted to make the Chief Public Prosecutor subject to reactions and enmity of the people through illogical, unlawful remarks and articles and acts most of which constitute crimes in themselves," it said.

It also said methods and intentions, more frequently attempted recently, to influence the court to take a result in favor of the case --with the astounding belief that "it was authorized by the people to do anything it wishes" and by complaining about judges, targeting them, even attaining assistance from foreign individuals and institutions.

--"JUDICIARY HAS BECOME PARTIAL"

The government described the statement as an illegal stance to influence the Constitutional Court. In a counter-statement read by government spokesman, Cemil Cicek, the government said the "(Supreme Court's) statement is political and unacceptable. It has no democratic and legal legitimacy. The indictment has been blessed and the Supreme Court of Appeals has become partial. The judiciary cannot supplant political opposition and cannot act like an opposition party."

 

MILLIYET

--WELL-BALANCED REPORT FROM EU ALONG WITH THREE MESSAGES

The Turkey report was adopted at the EU Parliament with 467 votes for to 62 votes against.

While critics found the report well balanced, European Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn sent the following messages: 1-The reforms should be accelerated with respect to democracy and secularism. 2- The use of exaggerated force during May 1st celebrations is worrying. 3- The dissolution case should be concluded in respect to European values.

--SELAH DOCKYARD SEALED

Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler announced Wednesday that the Selah Dockyard, located in the Tuzla district of Istanbul where many labor related deaths recently occurred, would be closed. Following the related decision of the Ministry of Labor, the dockyard was sealed by police.

 

SABAH

--PRESSURE FROM JUDGES TO JUDICIARY

The Presidents Committee of Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals released a statement similar to the "April 27th" declaration, and implied the Constitutional Court "close the ruling AKP. " The statement especially emphasized that the closure case opened by the Supreme Court of Appeals chief judge against the ruling AKP was "institutional" and responded to criticisms like a memorandum.
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Implying that the ruling AKP case should be concluded with the closure of the party, the statement said that methods and intentions were more frequently tried recently to influence the court to take a result in favor in the dissolution case --with an astonishing belief that "it was authorized by the people to do anything it wishes" and by complaining about judges, targeting them, even getting help from foreign individuals and institutions.

The statement also included expressions that would be considered as an intervention to constitutional amendments, and criticized the stance of the European Union (EU) on the closure case.

--CICEK: SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS BECOMES A PARTY TO THE LAWSUIT

The ruling AKP government harshly responded to the statement of the Presidents Committee of Turkey's Supreme Court of Appeals. Government spokesman, Cemil Cicek defined the statement as misfortune for democracy and the legal system. "The statement has neither a democratic nor a legal legitimacy. It is a political statement and the Supreme Court of Appeals has become a party to the lawsuit," Cicek said.

--TURKEY MEDIATES, STEPS TAKEN

Syria and Israel launched talks under Turkey's mediation. In the historic talks that began in Istanbul on Monday, (Israeli Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert's advisers and (Syrian President Bashar) al-Asad's aides discussed several matters through Turkey's shuttle diplomacy. Both countries thanked Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

 

VATAN

--WARNING OF "YOU CANNOT DO WHAT YOU WANT"

The Presidents Committee of the Supreme Court of Appeals accused the government of targeting the judiciary to get rid of the closure case.
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In a statement, the court said methods and intentions were more frequently tried recently to influence the court to take a result in favor in the dissolution case --with an astonishing belief that "it was authorized by the people to do anything it wishes" and by complaining about judges, targeting them, even getting help from foreign individuals and institutions.
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"Defendants and their supporters ignored the fact that the indictment was institutional, and they attempted to make the Chief Public Prosecutor subject to reactions and enmity of the people through illogical, unlawful remarks and articles and acts most of which constitute crimes in themselves."

--"POLITICS IS NONE OF THE JUDICIARY'S BUSINESS"

Spokesman Cemil Cicek read the government's counter-statement and said, "They are trying to influence the closure case. Supreme Court of Appeals has lost its impartiality."

--TURKEY OFFICIAL MEDIATOR

Israel and Syria officially announced that Turkey was mediating between the two countries. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert confirmed the mediation of Turkey. It was revealed that delegations of the countries were holding talks since Monday.
 
Delegations never met but Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Counselor Feridun Sinirlioglu shuttled between the delegations.

 

CUMHURIYET

--FISCHER ASKS ABOUT CLOSURE CASE

Austrian President Heinz Fischer, who is in Turkey on a formal visit, met Deniz Baykal, the chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP). Responding to questions from reporters after the meeting, Baykal said he discussed with Fischer the closure case against the ruling AKP and Turkey's EU membership bid.

--ISRAEL-SYRIAN TALKS: TURKEY FORMALLY BECOMES MEDIATOR

It has been revealed that Syria and Israel launched indirect peace talks in Istanbul on Monday through mediation of Ambassador Feridun Sinirlioglu, a deputy counselor of the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The parties said they had decided to maintain a serious and continuous dialogue in order to reach a comprehensive peace. Also, Washington said that Istanbul talks were not a "surprise" and they had been informed about the talks. Washington also eulogized Turkey's efforts.

 

RADIKAL

--FINALLY A DOCKYARD IN "DEATH CAMP" TUZLA WAS CLOSED

As a result of the inspection on the recent deaths at the Tuzla dockyards in Istanbul, Selah dockyard --where two people were killed in a week-- was closed. For the first time during Labor Minister Faruk Celik's term, one of the dockyards in the Tuzla district, which have claimed 21 lives since he took office, was closed down.

Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler drew attention to risks due to explosives, risk of falling and electric shock, and said the dockyard would not be opened until these hazards were resolved.

--EU EXPECTING "VENICE" DECISION

European Parliament's Turkey report was adopted Wednesday. The European Union called for the acceleration of reforms. European Commissioner for EU Enlargement Olli Rehn said they were expecting a decision in compliance with the Venice Commission's guidelines in the dissolution case against the Justice and Development Party.

 

YENI SAFAK

--TURKEY TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE

Syria and Israel started indirect peace talks under the mediation of Turkey. Later the parties expected to engage in direct talks again under Turkey's mediation.

The talks in Istanbul were seen as a turning point in the Middle East peace process. Both parties thanked Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

TAKSEA

The first sea taxi in Istanbul was launched. Five more sea taxis will be launched by September. The sea taxis which are approximately 10 to 12 meters in length will provide services between 27 locations.