TURKIYE

FULL SUPPORT TO TALAT

Turkish authorities gave the message of full support to President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) who paid a visit to Ankara ahead of Turkish Cypriot-Greek Cypriot summit which will begin in Cyprus on March 17th. There has been a busy diplomacy traffic in regard to the Cyprus issue. Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Talat prepared a road map for proposals that will be presented against initiatives by the Greek Cypriot administration.

BABACAN MEETS RICE

The meeting of foreign ministers of 26 NATO member states began in Brussels, Belgium. Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan had a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice within the scope of NATO meeting.

ZAMAN

HEADSCARF ON HIGHER COURT'S AGENDA

Constitutional Court decided that the application by Republican People's Party (CHP) and Democratic Left Party (DSP) to cancel Constitutional amendment regarding headscarf is appropriate to filing a lawsuit. The court will hear the case later.

ANKARA REVISES ITS CYPRUS STRATEGY

After Greek Cypriot side elected its new leader, both sides of Cyprus started to hold meetings in motherlands and set the strategy to be followed in the next period. Thus, President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) visited Ankara yesterday. Talat, Turkish Presdient Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting at Cankaya Presidential Palace.

YENI SAFAK

RELIGIOUS CULTURE COURSES SHOULD BE COMPULSORY

Head of Religious Affairs Department Ali Bardakoglu criticised the Council of State's decision which says religious culture and ethics courses should not be compulsory. Bardakoglu said, "decisions cannot be made on basis of prejudices in religious issues."

VATAN

WHO KILLED ADEM?

Turkish citizen Adem Ozdamar was in good health when he was taken to a police station in Germany. However, he was taken to a hospital after he went into coma at the police station. After 18 days of struggle for his life at intensive care unit due to head trauma, he died. Regarding the incident which occurred in Hagen city at night on February 17th, German police said Ozdamar lost his consciousness due to drug addiction and he hit his head on the wall. However, relatives of Adem believe that he was badly beaten by the police.

SECOND COMMANDER WHO SAYS "ACCORD WITH PKK"

Besides Gen. Ray Odierno --who played the leading role in sack scandal--, also Admiral William Fallon, head of U.S. central command in Iraq, said Turkey should seek consensus with PKK. After such statements of these two U.S. commanders, the White House stated that the U.S. did not expect Turkey to negotiate with PKK terrorist organization.

CUMHURIYET

4.2 MLN UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE

Turkish Board of Statistics (TUIK) made public a survey on household labor force. According to the survey, the number of (registered) jobless people rose by 38,000 and reached 2,333,000 in 2007. There were also 1,805,000 unemployed people who were not seeking for a job. Thus, total number of jobless people became 4.2 million.

TALABANI DUE IN TURKEY

Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is set to arrive in Turkey for a two-day working visit today. Talabani will be accompanied by Iraqi ministers of energy finance, water, industry and security. Ankara waits for a strong message from Talabani in regard to terrorist organization. His visit also aims to boost relations between Turkey and Iraq. Although Talabani has given some moderate messages in the recent period, the military will not attend dinner to be hosted in his honor at Cankaya Presidential Palace.

RADIKAL

REJECTION TO EUROPE REGARDING OCALAN

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture & Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment showed the mental health of Abdullah Ocalan (head of PKK terrorist organization who is in prison on Imrali island) as an excuse and wanted Turkey to end his isolation. Ankara rejected it.

AK PARTY MEMBERS: SOLUTION TO KURDISH PROBLEM LIES ON EQUALITY AND FREEDOM

Regarding Radikal's survey on "what is the civilian solution" to Kurdish problem, Justice & Development (AK) Party member Sabahattin Cevheri said there can be Kurdish tv channel under the supervision of Turkish Radio & Television Supreme Council (RTUK). Another AK Party member Abdurrahman Kurt said Kurds want to be understood.

HURRIYET

GATES INFORMS PENTAGON

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates gave information on his talks in Ankara at a news conference at the Pentagon. Gates said during his meetings in Ankara last week, he underlined the importance of uniting security measures regarding pursuit of PKK terrorists with efforts to eliminate civilian concerns of the population of Kurdish origin -- from which the terrorist organization PKK collects its members. Gates said the real target in solution of the terrorist organization PKK problem is to "separate the ferocious terrorists from the elements who can be comprised and brought back in the system." None of the Turkish authorities he met had an idea to have talks with the terrorist organization PKK, he told.

HEADSCARF CASE APPROVED

The Constitutional Court decided to hear a case after the submission of a lawsuit by the main opposition party Republican People's Party (CHP) and Democratic Left Party (DSP), regarding annulment of the constitutional amendments that lift the headscarf ban in universities. The Court will decide on a later-scheduled date whether to annul or halt the proceedings regarding the constitutional amendments after a rapporteur prepares his/her report on the case.

MILLIYET

THEY TOLD ME ABOUT PACKAGE

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates held a press conference at Pentagon and said Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told him about the steps which they would take in cultural, economic and political areas to prevent PKK terrorist organization to collect its members. Gates added that he knew about the details of initiatives which Ankara would launch regarding Kurdish problem.

EUROPE: OCALAN WAS NOT POISONED

European Committee for the Prevention of Torture & Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment denied claims that Abdullah Ocalan, head terrorist, was poisoned. However, the report of the committee criticised the isolation conditions of the head terrorist who is in prison on Imrali island.

SABAH

BARDAKOGLU CRITICIZES DECISION OF COUNCIL OF STATE

Ali Bardakoglu, head of Religious Affairs Department, criticized the decision of the Council of State as it stated that classes on religious culture and ethics in primary and secondary schools should not be compulsory with their current content. Bardakoglu said lessons on religious culture and ethics should continue being compulsory instructions at schools.

APPLICATION REGARDING HEADSCARF APPROVED

The Constitutional Court decided to hear a case after the submission of a lawsuit by the main opposition party CHP regarding annulment of the constitutional amendments that lift headscarf ban at universities.

AA