European Security & Defense Assembly: European Union should be more determined to end PKK terrorism. The report on "terrorist activities on Turkey-Iraq border" which was prepared by British parliamentarian Robert Walter criticised the stance of the EU regarding PKK. The report said that the black money and illicit drug connections of the PKK should be cut, and its propaganda through TV channel should be prevented.

BIG PROMOTION CHANCE FOR ISTANBUL

Istanbul, which hosted Champions League final, will play a leading role again in Turkey's promotion with UEFA Cup finals. The world will turn its eye on Bosphorus on May 20, 2009. Istanbul will host thousands of tourists who will come to Fenerbahce Sukru Saracoglu Stadium to watch UEFA Cup final match.

ZAMAN
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"MENTALITY REFORM" FROM DENIZ BAYKAL

Deniz Baykal, the chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), defended women wearing chadors and headscarves to his party "by criticizing one-party implementations." When responding to criticisms during the meeting of his party at the parliament, Baykal made historic remarks. Baykal said that people could not be said, "they are not one of us because they are wearing headscarves." Baykal said that people who did not abide by clothing regulations could not even walk on the Ataturk Boulevard during the first days of the Republic. Baykal said, "it was one-party mentality. They used to tell people to correct his/her clothing first. We are a political party. Are we supposed to declare a clothing regulation and classify people according to their clothes? Are we supposed to implement this one-party mentality as a humanistic party when we are about to welcome 2009? Every one can go to every square, walk on every boulevard and join whichever party s/he wants."

SECURITY OFFICER ORDERED CELL PHONE ONLINE, BOMB CAME TO AK PARTY

It has been revealed that a security officer ordered a cell phone online at the local headquarters of the Justice & Development (AK) Party in Istanbul and the bomb that went off at the party headquarters was left to the building that way. However, his friends took the bombed package because security officer Hayati Eryilmaz was on leave that day. In the meantime, police found out that the person who brought the package was in his early 20s.

EDUCATIONAL REFORM: 80 DIFFERENT TYPES OF VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS TO BE REDUCED TO 15

National Education Minister Huseyin Celik said that his ministry would restructure secondary education, and announced that the ministry would reduce the types of vocational schools, which were actually around 80. According to a circulation submitted to Minister Celik for approval, the names of 80 vocational high schools will be erased and these schools will only be named as vocational high schools. There are actually many vocational high schools in Turkey, including tourism vocational high school, maritime vocational high school, communication vocational high school, textile vocational high school. Some programs taught in vocational high schools like computer, communication, engine, ready-to-wear, dressmaking and ornamental plants will be hung with a separate signboard on the entrance of schools.

YENI SAFAK
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"APPAREL IMPOSITION IS THE MENTALITY OF ONE-PARTY REGIME"

Main opposition CHP leader Deniz Baykal made a historical self-criticism.
"Understanding people's clothing as a 'challenge to the state' is the result of an obsession," Baykal said. "It is a mentality of one-party regime. Everybody has to pull away from that obsession."
He said, "the understanding of 'you are not one of us if you wear a headscarf' is unacceptable. Are we going to be the ones to divide a part of people who love Turkey?"

MOODY'S WARNING LIKE BLACKMAIL

International credit rating agency Moody's said Turkey should cut a deal with the International Monetary Fund.
Company executive Kristin Lindaw said Turkey needs 120 billion USD and warned that recession is so close if IMF program is not implemented.


VATAN
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I WILL ADMIT WOMEN WEARING CHADOR

Deniz Baykal, the chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), harshly reacted to criticisms that he was allowing women wearing chadors to join his party. Baykal said, "I will admit them." During the meeting of his party at the parliament, Baykal said, "are we supposed to declare a clothing regulation? We cannot implement one-party mentality in 2000s. We reject the views that women wearing headscarves and chadors are all anti-secular and against the state. There is a law and every one can wear whatever s/he wants under this law."

EXPLOSIVES AND WEAPONS WERE TROPHIES OF SOUTHEAST

During the 23rd hearing of the Ergenekon case, retired major Fikret Emek defended himself against the weapons and explosives found in his house. An AK-47 (kalashnikov) rifle, an assassination gun (Kanas), TNT, C3 and C4 explosives were seized in Emek's house in Eskisehir, and this house was defined as "the second ammunition depot of Ergenekon terrorist organization" following a house in Umraniye. Emek said, "the kalashnikov and kanas were the weapons we seized when we were on duty in the Southeastern Anatolia Region. I got the explosives as a trophy when I retired in 2004."

CUMHURIYET
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TSK EXPELS 24 PERSONNEL

The Supreme Military Council held its winter meeting and discussed threats and measures to be taken against them. The council decided to expel 24 personnel from the Turkish Armed Forces. Five of them will be expelled for their fundamentalist activities.

ERGENEKON CASE: EMEK FORGOT WEAPONS

Eleven kilograms of C4 explosives and weapons were seized in a house that belonged to a retired major named Fikret Emek. During a hearing of the Ergenekon case, Emek said that he got those ammunition and weapons from operations in the east of Turkey and north of Iraq. Emek said that he forgot that those weapons were in his house.

RADIKAL
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NOTES FROM THE CRISIS "IN DECLINE"

Turkey's prime minister said that the crisis was "in decline", however, USA is going through a recession period. While Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that export figures would drop, Turkish Industrialists' & Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) chairperson Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag said the measures against the economic crisis were delayed. International rating agency Moody's also said that Turkey might face recession in a couple of years if it did not implement an IMF program.

DRESSING STYLE CANNOT BE PERCEIVED AS CHALLENGE AGAINST STATE, BAYKAL

Republican People's Party (CHP) chairperson Deniz Baykal said that dressing style could not be the criteria for secularism on its own.
"One-party regime cannot be implemented in the 21st century," Baykal said.
Baykal also said that perceiving a dress as a challenge against the state was an obsessive approach.



HURRIYET
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TUSIAD CALLS FOR REDUCTION IN VAT RATE TO INCREASE CONSUMPTION

Turkish Industrialists' & Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) chairperson Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag said that it was of great importance to keep the consumer expenditures and the domestic consumption alive during the current period. Yalcindag also said a reduction in VAT rates would improve consumption and this would have a positive reflection in the markets.

DRAW WILL BE ENOUGH FOR GALATASARAY

Turkey's Galatasaray soccer team will guarantee to proceed from Group B even if it draws with Hertha Berlin in the match to be played at Berlin's Olympic Stadium at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday. The match will be broadcast live on TRT-1 Channel.

MILLIYET
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YALCINDAG: PRECAUTIONARY PACKAGE IS LATE

Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, chairperson of the Turkish Industrialists' & Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), said that precautions against the crisis should be implemented as a whole. Referring to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement that the crisis was in a downtrend, Yalcindag said, "I would agree if it is a wish, but I would hesitate if it is a prediction."

CONTROVERSY OF 6 MLN ELECTORS

The Higher Board of Elections renewed electoral roll according to address-based census and six million more electors, appeared after the board's study, caused controversy. Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal said it was a shady and concerning case.

SABAH
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THEY CANNOT REACH ANYTHING THROUGH TERRORISM

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who visited Justice & Development (AK) Party building in Istanbul after a bomb attack, said that health condition of two people --who were injured in the attack-- was bad. Erdogan said that those who claimed that they were struggling for democracy could not reach anything through terrorism.

EXPULSION TO 24 TSK PERSONNEL

In yesterday's meeting, Supreme Military Board decided to expel 19 personnel of Turkish Armed Forces due to their drug addiction and immoral relations, and 5 personnel due to fundamentalist activities.


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