TURKIYE
-------
GUL: RED DOCUMENT IS NOT CONSTITUTION
President Abdullah Gul made important remarks on his way to India. He said Turkey needed to get away from the atmosphere of quarrels at once. Gul said, "We should appreciate the value of the current parliament. The people of Turkey elected and sent to the parliament a political spectrum representing all the diversities. Writing a new constitution would befit this parliament but the opportunity is missed," said Gul.
Gul who underlined that the National Security Concept Document known as the "Red Book" was not above the constitution, said such thinks were unthinkable in states with rule of law.

"THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROVOKE US"
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan who inaugurated a private hospital in Istanbul criticized the opposition. "Those who have not built anything for this country, are making fun of the sacred values of the nation, in attempt to sabotage the brotherhood in this country. We on the other hand are working to enhance unity and solidarity," said Erdogan.

ZAMAN
-----
GOVT'S INITIATIVE SUPPORTED BY ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS
The government's democratic initiative has been supported by artists and musicians. Famous pianist and composer Tuluyhan Ugurlu said that the project of the government should be backed by all sections of community. Ugurlu said the democratic move of the government was actually a "Turkey Initiative".

TURKEY TO TAKE ON GERMANY IN 2012 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Turkey will take on Germany, Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan in Group (A) in 2012 European Football Championship to be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

YENI SAFAK
----------
NATIONAL SECURITY DOCUMENT NOT ABOVE LAWS, SAYS TURKISH PRESIDENT
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said a national security policy document, which enlists possible threats to country's security and unity, did not and could not stand above laws. "I would expect that the document is written according to the realities of our day. This document has been considered as if it were above the constitution. This is totally wrong. The document is neither a law nor an article of the constitution," Gul said aboard his plane to India.

TURKISH BUSINESSMAN CALLS FOR SUCCESS IN DEMOCRATIC INITIATIVE
A Turkish businessman made a call for all sides to work for success in the government's democratic initiative, saying that it was an issue of the entire country. Husamettin Kavi, chairman of consultation board of an agency for the Istanbul European Capital of Culture, said Turkey was passing through a transformation process. "Against all odds, we are marching on the right path. But we need a civilian and a new constitution," he said.
 

VATAN
     -----
     "WE MISSED HISTORICAL OPPORTUNITY"
     President Abdullah Gul made important statements regarding the constitutional amendment on board the plane en route to India. Gul left Turkey for India to hold formal talks. Gul said that all political views in Turkey have been represented in the parliament. President Gul said it would have been good for the parliament to make a new constitution, but they missed such an important opportunity.
    
     ERDOGAN ON TURKEY'S AFRICA INITIATIVE
     Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkish embassies would be established in 27 of 52 African countries till the end of 2010. Erdogan said that they aimed to boost relations with African countries.
    
     CUMHURIYET
     ----------
     OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUION IS MISSED, PRESIDENT GUL
     President Abdullah Gul who left for India on Friday said there was great consensus for a new constitution. "What befit the parliament was to write a new constitution but due to certain reasons this opportunity was missed," said Gul. Gul who commented on the debates on the national security document, said the new document should be written in the light of current circumstances. He said, at times, the document was given precedence over the constitution, noting that this was wrong.
    
     ALEVIS WELCOME ECHR RULING AGAINST RELIGION LISTING IN I.D.s
     Alevi associations and writers who welcomed the European Court of Human Rights ruling against the listing of religions of citizens in I.D. cards said, "the religious section in the I.D. cards is against the constitution. The ruling is righteous. The Justice and Development Party government should implement it at once, and remove the religion section in the I.D. cards."
     Chairman of the Hubyar Sultan of the Alevi Culture Association said when they opposed the obligatory religion classes in schools, authorities said it wrote Muslim in their ID cards, and when they had the religion section in their I.D.s left blank they were discriminated. He said if the religion section is not erased completely they would have "Alevi" written under that section.
    
     RADIKAL
     -------
     ALEVI INITIATIVE REPORT DRAWING CRITICISMS
     A report drafted at a joint workshop between the Turkish government and leaders of the Alevi community has drawn criticisms for failing at address genuinely the problems of the Alevis in Turkey. "They have found a way to assimilate Alevis into a Sunni community. We wish them luck, if they they could have any," Ali Balkiz, head of an Alevi federation, said. A lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, Reha Camuroglu said criticized the report over its vague stance on the status of the "Cem", Alewite religious procession. "The report is empty. What will be regulation on dedes [Alevi religious leaders]. What about the compulsory religious courses," Camuroglu said.
    
     MARMARAY WORKERS PROTESTING WORK CONIDITONS, LOW WAGES
     Around 200 workers at an archeological dig discovered at the construction site of Istanbul's Marmaray tunnel project have staged a protest against wages as low as 28.5 Turkish lira a day and unhealthy working conditions. Workers say they have been working without a wage increase for three years. 
 

HURRIYET
     --------
     "I DON'T BELIEVE IN THIS COINCIDENCE"
     U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Howard Berman has scheduled a vote of his panel on "genocide" resolution on March 4. Speaking to reporters on board the plane en route from Germany to Turkey, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said he informed the Deputy Secretary of U.S. State Department, James B. Steinberg about Ankara's uneasiness on the resolution. It would not serve interests of the US, Armenia or Turkey, he said. It could block Turkey-Armenia process, he told reporters.
    
     BAYKAL: "EARLY ELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE"
     Deniz Baykal, chairman of main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said that early election would take place this year. Addressing members of his party assembly, Baykal said, "we will send off the ruling party. CHP will be the first party in the coming election."
    
     MILLIYET
     --------
     OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A NEW CONSTITUTUION IS MISSED
     "We should not underestimate the current parliament. Turkey will miss this parliament in the future. The people elected and sent to the parliament a political spectrum representing all the diversities," said President Abdullah Gul before leaving for India.
     He said there was a consensus for a new constitution.
     "Everyone even has their own draft constitution. But the opportunity is missed. The parliament should have done this in the very beginning. I don't know what they can accomplish piece by piece now," said Gul.
     "I both read and wrote the national security document. When I wrote the document at the Foreign Ministry I new it had to be changed," said Gul.
    
     CUKURAMBAR MEASURES
     New measures for protection of ministers are on the way following alleged assignation plot against Deputy Premier Bulent Arinc. According to the new plan, Prime Ministry Security Department will be responsible for protection of ministers instead of the police. The residences of ministers will be monitored with surveillance cameras. Two guards with uniform and an undercover guard will secure the perimeter.
    
     SABAH
     -----
     HISTORIC PEACE IN ANKARA
     Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia are set announce on Tuesday in the Turkish capital, Ankara, that they would appoint ambassadors to each other's countries in a historic step for the normalization of relations in the Balkans. Bosnian and Serbian foreign minsters will meet under the mediation of their Turkish counterpart, Ahmet Davutoglu who has been holding intensive talks with the parts for the last five months.
    
     GUL SAYS PARLIAMENT HAS MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW CONSTITUION
     Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said the Turkish parliament had missed an opportunity to make a better constitution. "Opportunity has been missed for a new constitution. This parliament could have done it in the first place," Gul said, speaking to reporters aboard his plane to India.
    
     JAPAN TO LEND TURKEY 1-1.5 BLN USD
     Tokyo will lend Turkey 1 to 1.5 billion USD with at a relatively lower cost in 2010, which is proclaimed by Ankara as "the Japanese Year in Turkey." JBIC, a Japanese credit agency, has decided to evaluate Turkey's rating grade as investable. Turkey is planning to issue bonds in yen.
 

AA