TURKIYE

LET'S UNITE

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they should leave aside all the disagreements and display a joint stance for success in the fight against terrorism. Erdogan gave important messages at the first parliamentary group meeting of his ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party after the beginning of the new legislative year. "While some circles are trying to put the blame on someone else, we seek for a solution to eliminate the issue of terrorism altogether. If regional countries that extend support to terrorism fail to take the necessary measures, we will begin imposing sanctions," he said.

BAHCELI PROPOSES TO ESTABLISH BUFFER ZONES

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) chairman Devlet Bahceli said that they would vote in favor of the Prime Ministry motion on extension of the government's mandate by one year to order military strikes against the PKK terrorist organization in north of Iraq as of October 17th, 2008. Bahceli also proposed to establish buffer zones in secure areas in northern part of Iraq.

ZAMAN

'YES' TO FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM, 'NO' TO TAKING BACKWARD STEP IN DEMOCRACY

Turkey is discussing the process of fight against terrorism and measures that should be taken after the attack on Aktutun Gendarmerie Border Unit in Semdinli town of the southeastern province of Hakkari. The government is determined to take steps rapidly in an effective fight against terrorism. Delivering a speech at a group meeting of the Justice and Development (AK) Party, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said they would not take backward step in regard to rights and freedoms and they would take necessary measures in regard to fight against terrorism.

SURPRISING DEVELOPMENT FOR 90,000 STUDENTS

A surprising development took place in additional contingents of universities. The number of additional contingents that was expected to be 40,000 was announced as 90,000. Period of application for these contingents will begin on Wednesday.

YENI SAFAK

MOUNT BUZUL UNDER FIRE

The General Staff said jets bombed 21 targets on Avasin, Basyan in the north of Iraq, and Mount Iki Yaka and Mount Buzul in Hakkari. The number of terrorists killed after Aktutun attack reached 25.

MOTION AT PARLIAMENT

The parliament will discuss on Wednesday a motion extending the authority of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) to stage military operations in the north of Iraq as of October 17th, 2008. The Prime Ministry motion envisages extension of the authority for one more year.

ATTACK ON COUNCIL OF STATE TO BE UNITED WITH ERGENEKON CASE

The Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor's Office demanded that the case regarding the attack on the Council of State should be re-heard by examining all documents and statements under the Ergenekon case.

VATAN

CIVIL SOLUTION MEETING AT GENERAL STAFF

Representatives of six think-tanks and institutions which have different strategies and views in regard to fight against terrorism had a six-hour meeting with Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug. Gen. Basbug who held a press conference in September said they wanted to make General Staff's Strategic Research and Study Center (SAREM) more effective and improve relations with think tanks. After these statements, Gen. Basbug had a meeting with representatives of six institutions including Turkey Economy Policies Research Foundation and International Strategic Researches Institution. They discussed fight against terrorism, regional and global developments in the meeting.

ERDOGAN: "WE FULFILLED WHAT MILITARY DEMANDED"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech at his party's group meeting and said this attack (terrorist attack in Aktutun in Semdinli town of southeastern province of Hakkari) targeted tranquility and stability in the country. Erdogan said his government had fulfilled what the military had demanded so far.

CUMHURIYET

FIRE IN TURKEY

As an impact of the global economic crisis, price of one USD has risen up to 1.38 YTL in markets. Depreciation of the Turkish lira in the last three days rose to 6 percent. Also, consumer confidence index dropped to 75.3 percent in September from 80.1 percent in August.

CEBIT OPENS

CeBIT Informatics Eurasia, the largest and the most important Information and Communication Technology (ICT) trade show in the region, has opened at Istanbul's TUYAP Fair and Congress Center. Nearly 150 thousand people from 70 countries are expected to visit the show. Over 900 companies from several countries converged on Istanbul to exhibit the very latest integrated technology solutions.

RADIKAL

PATERNITY LEAVE LOOMS

There are a good and a bad news from the government. The good one is, men will be allowed to leave the work without pay for six months just like women workers. The bad one is, six months of leave will be shared by the father and the mother.

BACCA'S MURDERER COULD NOT LOOK AT HER MOTHER'S FACE

Suspect of the murder of Italian artist Pippa Bacca appeared in court. Bacca's mother Elena Manzoni said, "I looked at his face but he could not dare to look at mine." Manzoni said she believed in the Turkish justice.

HURRIYET

ALONE WITH GIGANTIC DEBT

Esat Edin, owner of the famous holiday resort Kemer Country, died in a flood together with three of his children and now 70 million USD of debts were inherited to 14-year-old Murat, Edin's only child alive.

BESIKTAS COACH RESIGNS

Turkish soccer team Besiktas coach Ertugrul Saglam resigned after heavy criticisms when his team was eliminated from the UEFA Cup.

"I started my job as a decent man and now I quit as a decent man," Saglam told a press conference.

MILLIYET

SPENDINGS DOWN

Turkish consumers have cut their spendings because of the fear of an economic crisis. Luxury restaurants began offering economic menus while shopping malls are waiting for Arab tourists. Sale of real-estate stopped completely.

BRAINSTORMING AT HEADQUARTERS

General Staff Chief Gen. Ilker Basbug met six academicians and they discussed the issue of terrorism. Professor Albulkadir Cevik, Professor Ali Caglar, Professor Deniz Ulke Aribagan, Professor Ihsan Bal and Professor Ali Nihat Ozcan who specialized in terrorism-clashes, political psychology and international relations, were in attendance at the five-hour meeting.

TRACES OF ANCESTORS OF EUROPEAN FARMERS FOUND IN ISTANBUL

Stone-carved tools of some 15-20 thousand years old have been unearthed in Istanbul. Those tools prove that Istanbul was one of the first agriculture sites in Europe.

SABAH

QUESTIONS FROM JOURNALIST ULUC TO GEN. BASBUG

Journalist Hincal Uluc opened to discussion "the method to end violence", sought by every one after the terrorist attack on Aktutun. Uluc asked, "wasn't it Gen. (Ilker) Basbug (the chief of General Staff) who drew red lines regarding an issue under the authority of the parliament in the week he was appointed to this position?"

Uluc also asked, "wasn't it Gen. Basbug who said there could not be any general amnesty and who told that the only way to win the fight was to prevent people from joining the terrorist organization PKK?"

Uluc said, "then he knows or thinks about a solution that does not include amnesty. He should make it public. For the military, what is the shortest way to prevent people from joining the PKK? The public is awaiting a solution."

HARSH WINDS IN ANKARA

Responding to the General Staff's statement regarding budget, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "we have done what our military has wanted from us, and we will continue to do so. However, we will not take a backward step from democracy."

Deniz Baykal, the chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), suggested that a buffer zone that could ensure regional security should be formed.

Devlet Bahceli, the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), also proposed that a buffer zone should be set up in the north of Iraq.

AA