Turkey press scan

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

OPERATION IN KAPIKULE: 86 TAKEN UNDER CUSTODY
Edirne police detained 58 customs officers and 28 policemen in an operation on Thursday morning upon the allegations of “bribery”. The detainees are under interrogation in Edirne Security Department. While taking bribe for 180-280 times at Kapikule Border Gate, the 4 suspects were recorded by hidden cameras and they were arrested.

BLOW FROM ECHR TO GREEK CYPRIOTS
European Court of Human Rights did not fine Turkey in Xenides-Arestis case which is the return match of Louzidou case. ECHR ruled that in the case of Greek Cypriot Xenides-Arestis v. Turkey that Turkey violated property right, but there was no need to pay any compensation. Yet ECHR said that an effective remedy should be introduced by Turkey. �
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MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

GOOD NEWS TO TRNC
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) gave the message in Xenides-Arestis case that it could consider the new property law adopted in TRNC as an internal remedy. ECHR didn't ask Turkey to pay any compensation and asked Turkey to find a remedy for similar cases within three months as it ruled  that Turkey violated the property right of Greek Cypriot citizen.
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HARSH REACTION FROM ARMY
General Staff reacted to internet sites which slander the military forces. Issuing a statement, General Staff said that the aim of those internet sites was to harm the honour of the armed forces, adding that yet they wouldn't reach their goals.
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SABAH (LIBERAL)

ANKARA CHIEF PROSECUTOR LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION ALSO AGAINST BAYKAL AND OZOK
An interesting development occurred regarding the tension between Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and government. Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office launched a series of investigations following the remarks of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that “TUSIAD committed constitutional crime”. The first name that was under investigation was businessmen Mustafa Koc. Higher Board of Education (YOK) Chairman Tezic is also under investigation on charges of what he had said 34 days ago.

Chief Prosecutor Huseyin Boyrazoglu said investigations were also launched against Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal and Turkish Bars' Union Chairman Ozdemir Ozok.  �

CHILDREN ARE IN DANGER
Doctor Nesrin Dilbaz, the chief of drug centre said that the age of using drugs among youngsters decreased to 12 in the recent years. Dilbaz stressed that youngsters particularly use ecstasy pills to overcome their adolescence problems.�
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VATAN (INDEPENDENT)

YESTERDAY IS YESTERDAY...
Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) which is accused by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for putting pressure on the judiciary, had extended the same support to Erdogan when he was tried in 1996. Today Erdogan accuses TUSIAD of putting pressure on the court which tried Van University Rector Prof. Dr. Askın and lodged a complaint.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

PARLIAMENTARIANS AFFECTED BY DENKTAS'S SPEECH
Former President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Rauf Denktas addressed a conference in the Turkish Parliament where he came upon the invitation of the Republican People's Party (CHP). Denktas wanted the Turkish Parliament either to reject the additional protocol or include the condition (to the protocol) that Turkey will not recognize Greek Cypriot administration unless a settlement is reached on the island. Some parliamentarians could not keep themselves from crying during Denktas's emotional speech.
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FUNDAMENTALISM ESCALATES
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok issued a message on the 75th anniversary of killing of Kubilay, who is the symbol of secular republic. In his message Gen. Ozkok said fundamentalist activities escalated rapidly particularly in the recent years, and noted that young people were enslaved by circles having evil aims. �
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RADIKAL (LEFT)

PUNISHMENTS GIVEN UNDER ARTICLE 301
Two writers were punished under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) which is harshly criticized within Turkey and in Europe. The courts separately fined the author and the journalist for insulting the state. Zulkuf Kisanak, the author of Lost Villages, was sentenced to five months in prison which was immediately commuted to a 3,000 lira (US$2,200) fine. Aziz Ozer, editor of the far-left monthly magazine Yeni Dunya Icin Cagri, was sentenced to a 10-month prison term, which the judge later reduced to a 6,000 lira (US$4,400) fine. Both men were fined under Article 301 which makes it a crime to insult the Turkish republic, Turkishness or state institutions. Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk is also tried under the same article.
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FULL SUPPORT TO DENKTAS
Former President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) addressed Turkish parliament yesterday. “If you approve the additional protocol, Greek Cypriots will not let us live on the island,” said Denktas. Denktas was welcomed by Former President Suleyman Demirel, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Baykal and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader
Bahceli at the parliament.         �

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

EARTHQUAKE MOBILIZATION
Measures which can be taken in a possible earthquake were reviewed at the National Security Council (NSC). At the meeting on Disaster 2005 Crisis Management Operation, measures that can be taken before and after a massive earthquake in Istanbul were discussed. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, and other ministers attended the meeting.
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ARMENIAN WRITER:NO GENOCIDE WAS COMMITTED
An Armenian researcher-writer Levon Panos Dabagyan said that “the history should be known well, there is nothing like genocide, only deportation took place in 1915 and this was performed by a political organization and there were Germans behind them. Turks and Armenians lived in peace for 1000 years  but others made us fight.”
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ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
 
KOC:TURKEY CORNERED ITSELF IN PAMUK'S TRIAL
Businessman Rahmi Koc, speaking about the remarks of novelist Orhan Pamuk that caused a file to be opened against him, “I am amazed about the developments. I don't know Mr. Pamuk and I did not read his book. I am following the developments from the world media. This trial was extremely against Turkey.”Koc said the situation would be worse if Turkey gives up the trial, stating that Turkey cornered itself.
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OPERATION IN KAPIKULE AGAINST BRIBERY GANG
Edirne police detained 58 customs officers and 28 policemen in an operation. 44 of the 58 customs officers were arrested. One of the officers fled from the courthouse. The arrests took place upon the allegations of “bribery”. �

YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)

GREAT HUNTING IN KAPIKULE
An operation has been launched against organized irregularities in Kapikule border gate. 46 customs officers and 27 policemen who were involved in bribery and irregularities were taken into custody. Edirne Police have been monitoring the customs officers through secret cameras for three months. The first operation was launched on December 5th in which 35 people were detained.
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PARRIS EULOGIZES TURKEY
Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris remarked that the voice of the United States and Europe in the Middle East and Muslim world was not as effective as Turkey. Parris said that while the United States was searching for ways to improve democracy in the Greater Middle East and Northern Africa,
Turkey could play a unique role in that region.