Turkish Press Review of Hurriyet, Milliyet, Sabah, Vatan, Cumhuriyet, Radikal, Turkiye, Zaman, Yeni Safak

HURRIYET

Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corp. (TUPRAS) has become the biggest company of Turkey with a turnover of 18.6 billion YTL. The Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ISO) released its list of Turkey's 500 biggest companies. Ford Automotive was ranked the second with a turnover of 5.6 billion USD and Electricity Production Corp. as third with a turnover of 3.9 billion USD.

Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul told a news conference in the central city of Kayseri, "the late night statement released by the General Staff on April 27th was restored. The case was closed. We have opened a new page." Referring to release of Riza Altun, one of the PKK's terrorist leaders, Gul said, "what Austria did is a serious mistake which is unacceptable. We harshly protested the Austrian government. What they did is a heavy blow to the international cooperation in the fight against terrorism. Such an attitude is unacceptable in a period in which very important efforts are under way to eradicate the PKK's sources of finance in Europe. Now, we expect the Iraqi government to extradite Altun to Turkey."

MILLIYET

"We sat down and talked, and we fixed that statement. What happened has happened. We have opened a new page," said Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul about the April 27th dated Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) statement that is regarded widely as the "e-statement". Gul did not reveal whether or not the "reconciliation talk took place during the meeting between PM Erdogan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit at Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul after the said statement was issued.

The U.S. Embassy gave "Let's not talk these matters in front of the public," message to FM Gul who has been making statements about the U.S.-made weapons in the possession of the terrorist organization PKK.

SABAH

Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul reacted to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who vetoed appointments of diplomats. "There is no diplomat left at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to appoint. We could not appoint new secretary-general of the National Security Council (MGK). We proposed the names of Turkish Ambassador to Greece Tahsin Burcuoglu and Turkish Ambassador to Israel Feridun Sinirlioglu. But, President Sezer vetoed both of them," Gul said.

Twenty-three pieces of historical works of art which were smuggled from Turkey and found in the United Arab Emirates, have been brought back to Turkey. 1.5 tons of works of arts were found aboard a plane on April 1st, 2007. The treasury includes statues and sarcophaguses.

VATAN

The government proposed Feridun Sinirlioglu, a name that was vetoed by the President in the past, for the National Security Council (MGK) Secretary General. When asked a question in Kayseri as to whether a new crisis would arise, Gul's answer was tough: "Will the MGK directed with an acting secretary? There are no other ambassadors left at the ministry. Mr. Sezer did not find 5 undersecretaries suitable for the post. The individuals we proposed are not from our party, they are ambassadors."

500 The Istanbul Chamber of Commerce announced the list of 500 biggest industry companies. Tupras which was sold to Koc Group was the leader again with a profit of 18.7 billion YTL. Ford Automotive, Arcelik, Tofas and Aygaz owned by Koc Group made it to the first top ten.

CUMHURIYET

POLL COMEDY The opposition reacted to Tarhan Erdem's poll that is projecting the vote rates of Justice and Development (AK) Party as 48 percent. Deputy Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Cevdet Selvi said the polls were aiming to influence the indecisive voters while Deputy Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Mehmet Sandir asked, " Is the chairman of a party winning such a big percentage of votes in rage out of joy?" The poll results even exceed the expectations of PM Erdogan: PM Erdogan who was asserting that they would win over 400 seats, later started to say that what was important was to exceed the vote rate of 34 percent. Erdogan even lowered the bar further to 276 seats that would bring them to power alone.

According to YON-ARA election poll the vote rate of Justice and Development (AK) Party is between the 29-33 percent margin. Assistant Prof. Metin Ozugurlu underlined that AK party was not the party on the rise but the one on the down fall and said, "AK Party is not reaching the seat number that is enough to bring it to power alone." Ozugurlu said some polls made it their aim to influence the public opinion.

RADIKAL

Leaders of the political parties will tell their last words on Friday and Saturday prior to the general elections on July 22nd. While Justice & Development (AK) Party Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahceli to step down if they fail in the elections, Baykal accused him of being the most foulmouthed prime minister in the history of Turkey. Meanwhile, Bahceli said that AK Party government was the arsonist of the fires in people's lives. WHO BURNS DOWN BODRUM? An important part of forested areas in the popular resort town of Bodrum was burnt down. Directors, non-governmental organizations, local residents and forest workers claim that industrialists and owners of fields were responsible for the fires.

TURKIYE

At his political party's election campaign rally in the northern cities of Bayburt and Gumushane, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "during the rallies, we explain our actions to the people while the other political parties try to defame us. We have made a silent revolution in the last 4.5 years."

Democrat Party (DP) Chairman Mehmet Agar pledged that if he comes to the political power, he will eradicate the terrorist organization PKK within a year. "If I fail to keep my promise, I will end my political career," Agar claimed.

Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani said that they are not afraid of Turkey's likely cross-border military operation into north of Iraq. Barzani claimed that Kurds are ready to fight.

ZAMAN

The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) National-100 Index climbed 1,349.99 points in the afternoon session and closed at 53,325.29 points on Thursday, setting a new record. Meanwhile, one USD reduced to 1.265 YTL.

According to the latest survey carried out by the Zaman daily, the Justice & Development (AK) Party will get 48.7 percent of all votes in the upcoming elections. The AK Party will be followed by the Republican People's Party (CHP) with 17.2 percent and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) with 10.3 percent.

YENI SAFAK

It was revealed that the deceased founder of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Alparslan Turkes warned his supporters against Devlet Bahceli in a letter he wrote in 1983. In his letter, Turkes said, "Bahceli was with the National Intelligence Agency (MIT). Do not trust him."

Turkey has officially requested the Iraqi government to extradite Riza Altun, one of leaders of the terrorist organization PKK who was sent to Iraq by Austria. Iraqi Ambassador to Turkey Sabah Cemil Umran was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the meeting, MFA officials requested the Iraqi government to arrest and extradite Altun to Turkey.

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Güncelleme Tarihi: 20 Temmuz 2007, 15:19