GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON NOV 12

HURRIYET
-- BERLUSCONI: "I AM AN ADVOCATE FOR TURKEY"
"My country and I are the number one advocate for Turkey," Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told daily Hurriyet, as he was set to participate at an intergovernmental summit between Turkey and Italy in the Aegean resort city of Izmir. "Among all the leaders Tayyip Erdogan has a special place. There is a strong and an immediate sympathy between the two of us. He is an honest person," Berlusconi said. The Italian premier also said that Turkey's secular institutions had become stronger over the last 15 years. "And everyone should recognize the very basic feature of the Republic of Turkey which was born from Ataturk's genius."
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-- LAST VETERAN OF TURKISH INDEPENDENCE WAR PASSES AWAY
The last veteran of the Turkish War of Independence died on Tuesday at the age of 105 in Istanbul. A full military funeral service will be held for Retired Colonel Mustafa Sekip Birgol, a decorated soldier, with the participation of chief of Turkish General Staff.
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MILLIYET
-- WE LOST THE LAST VETERAN
Mustafa Sekip Birgol, the last of the veterans of the War of Independence, passed away at the age of 105. Retired colonel Birgol, who died in Istanbul, will be laid to rest today. Birgol's father and grandfather were also army officers.
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-- GIANT INVESTMENT BY DANONE IN DIYARBAKIR
Agriculture Minister Mehdi Eker said that they agreed to implement a project with a French company which envisaged an investment worth of $3 billion in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir. It was learned that the company is Danone. Eker said that there was a big demand from Gulf countries and Middle East countries to invest in Turkey amid the global food crisis.
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SABAH
-- EU CAN NOT BE THOUGHT OF WITHOUT TURKEY
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had an interview with daily Sabah prior to his visit to Turkey. Berlusconi said, "Keeping Turkey outside the EU would be a grave mistake". He said putting the breaks on Turkey's EU membership contradicted the interests of Europe.
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-- AGAR CASE MAY PROLONG
The trial of Mehmet Agar, the last accused in the Susurluk case, has started after 12 years. Agar’s name emerged among relationships that were revealed after a traffic accident in Susurluk on Nov. 3, 1996. A record was prepared against Agar, a former interior minister and police department chief, on charges that he formed "gang". The court ruled for lack of jurisdiction on Tuesday. If the criminal court makes a similar decision, Agar's file will be sent to the Supreme Court of Appeals and period of prescription will start.

VATAN
-- MALL REVOLT
The retail sector is having hard times due to a slump in the markets. Shopkeepers have revolted against mall operators and exorbitant rentals as their sales dropped after the financial crisis. Some shopping malls have reduced rent charges in foreign currencies, and some fixed currencies. But finally, "close down" protests have started at some malls that have not offered retailers a solution. Several shopkeepers pulled down shutters in Ankara's Antares Shopping Mall. A second protest was held at Trabzon's Forum Shopping Mall. And yesterday, shops in Ankara’s Atakule Shopping Mall were closed for two hours to protest mall management.
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-- RTUK INVESTIGATION INTO QATAR'S EMIR
Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK), Turkey's radio and television watchdog, has launched an investigation into Sabah-ATV as Calik Group, the owner of the media group, changed its partnership structure after acquiring it. RTUK approved Qatari Emir's 25 percent partnership on June 10. However, just a month later on July 9, the Competition Board prepared a report which said, "The Qatari partner has a 25 percent stake in the company but has equal management rights as Calik." RTUK, which approved the acquisition before this report, will now make a new assessment.
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CUMHURIYET
-- LAST VETERAN OF TURKISH INDEPENDENCE WAR PASSES AWAY
The last veteran of the Turkish Independence War of 1919-1923 passed away on Tuesday at the age of 105 in Istanbul. Retired colonel Mustafa Sekip Birgol will be laid to eternal rest on Friday.
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-- INDUSTRIAL OUTPUT SHRINKING
Capacity utilization, which is a major indicator of the economy, fell by 6.4 percent in October, reflecting a decrease in industrial output. Capacity utilization dropped to 76.7 percent. With the latest figures, gross domestic product is expected to turn negative for the first time this year in the third quarter. The major reason for the downward trend is the dampening of demand.
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RADIKAL
-- WORKERS', EMPLOYERS' UNIONS WARN AGAINST INCREASING UNEMPLOYMENT
Both workers' and employers' unions have issued strong warnings against the skyrocketing unemployment rate as 150-200,000 people lost their jobs in the textile sector alone in the last two years. News of sackings and forced vacations have started to arrive from the construction and automotive sectors, which has shrunk by 40 percent. Heads of workers' and employers' unions called on government to take immediate measures.
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-- TURKISH PREMIER SEES FINANCIAL CRISIS SCALING DOWN
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday a global financial crisis had started to wind down, which he said was also confirmed by experts. "It is very important that the sense of panic about the effects of the crisis on Turkey has left it place to a sense of commonsense and continence. If we could turn this period, which they call crisis into an era of opportunity, Turkey would reach a better future," Erdogan said.

YENI SAFAK
-- AN ERA ENDS
Mustafa Sekip Birgol, the only surviving veteran who fought in the War of Independence, passed away in Istanbul. Bingol was the only veteran left after fellow veteran, Yakup Satar, from Eskisehir died in April. Birgol was 105 years old. He was born in the Uskudar district of Istanbul in 1903. He fought as a lieutenant in the Great Attack. He also fought against gangs after Izmir was rescued from the enemies. Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug revealed that Birgol was the only veteran left from the War of Independence. Basbug paid a 3-1/2 hour visit to Birgol in his home, and asked, "Do you have any orders commander?" upon leaving.
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-- RUSSIA TO CUT NATURAL GAS PRICES
Russian energy giant Gazprom stated that the price of natural gas, which was sent to Turkey, could be reduced by 20 percent in 2009. Gazprom also stated that the amount of natural gas, which was sent to Turkey via the Blue Stream pipeline, would be increased to 14 billion cubic meters in 2009.