TURKIYE

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DISSOLUTION IN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION SPEEDS UP

There has been a panic in terrorist organization PKK especially after air strikes conducted by Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in the north of Iraq targeting PKK terrorists. Small groups of terrorists have begun to leave PKK camps in the recent months. In the meantime, Turkish security teams detonated explosives planted by PKK terrorists in mountainous area in eastern province of Tunceli.


PEACE IN CAUCASUS BENEFITS EVERYONE

Turkish President Abdullah Gul welcomed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at Cankaya Presidential Palace. Gul and Aliyev held a joint press conference after a tete-a-tete meeting. Gul said solution of problems in Caucasus would be in the benefit everyone. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Turkey's proposal on Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform was of great importance for restoration of peace in the region.


ZAMAN

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TURKISH PREMIER DUE TO U.S.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to pay a four-day visit to the United States next week. Erdogan is also planning to meet America's new president-elect, Barack Obama. "I will seek the opportunity to meet him if I had the chance as he will be working intensely for his cabinet," Erdogan told reporters.


EU REPORT CALLS FOR REFORMS IN 2009

A European Union progress report for Turkey criticized the government, the Turkish Armed Forces, the judiciary and the main opposition Republican People's Party as it strongly praised Turkish President Abdullah Gul. The report stressed Turkey's increasing strategic importance for Europe and praised Turkish foreign policy. EU Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn urged the Turkish government to make 2009 a year of reforms.


TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO PAY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR UP TO ONE YEAR

The Turkish government is working on several projects so that the Turkish workers get affected by the global economic crisis as little as possible. Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that the government will pay unemployment benefits for up to one year.


YENI SAFAK

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TURKISH MINISTER WARNS AGAINST SHRINK IN EXPORTS

Turkish State Minister for foreign trade Kursad Tuzmen warned against a possible slowdown in Turkey's exports as demand would shrink due to a global financial crisis. Tuzmen said automotive and ready-clothing sector would be hit hardest as demand in European Union countries would downsize.


NO PROGRAM REQUEST FROM TURKEY, IMF SAYS

An official from the International Monetary Fund said Turkey had not asked for a new program which would include an IMF loan. "Turkish authorities did not express a program request but they are evaluating their options," the official said. Turkey was expected to make up its mind after State Minister for the Treasury Mehmet Simsek participates at a meeting of the G20 countries in Brazil where he will meet IMF President Dominique Strauss-Khan.


HURRIYET

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PRESSURE ON PRESS INCLUDED IN PROGRESS REPORT

The European Union (EU) made public the annual peport on Turkey's progress. The report said that EU was concerned about the Turkish government's pressure on the press. "I hope that political and administrative actors will assume an attitude taking into consideration of freedom of press," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said. 85-page report said Turkey should speed up reforms in 2009.


CONGRATULATION FROM GUL

During a news conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, President Abdullah Gul gave messages of hope in regard to the election of Barack Obama as the new President of the United States. "I hope that a new era will begin in the world. I hope that his election will be to the benefit of US people and contribute to peace, stability and security in the world," Gul said in the news conference.


MILLIYET

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EU REPORT CRTITICAL ON FREEDOM OF PRESS IN TURKEY

European Union's progress report on Turkey assumed a critical stance against Turkish government's attitude toward the press on Wednesday. The report said a number of high level Turkish officials lashed out at the press after a series of news reports on corruption allegations were published. "It is so hard to count them one by one as there are so many instances," said Olli Rehn, EU commissioner for enlargement.


CHIEF PROSECUTOR TO PROBE INTO GERMAN CHARITY FRAUD

A chief prosecutor in Turkey has moved to make an investigation about fraud in a Germany-based charity to find out whether the organization had sent money to the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party. Prosecutor Abdurrahman Cetinkaya, who also had filed a closure case against the AK Party, would probe the fraud case which had seen a German court sentencing three Turks for siphoning donations in the charity Deniz Feneri e.V. The Frankfurt court had said the charity had received a total of 41 million euros of donations over last five years in Germany, and 17 million euros of that had been sent to Turkey.


SABAH

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REFORM WARNING FROM EU

In the Progress Report, European Union (EU) made a call to Turkey to make 2009 a year of reform. The report criticized the army and the government over freedom of press.

The report also wanted Political Parties Law to be amended.


ENCOURAGING SCORE

Fenerbahce soccer team of Turkey drew 0-0 with Arsenal soccer team of England in European Champions League in London.

Fenerbahce was defeated by Arsenal 5-2 in the first match in Istanbul.

Goalkeeper Volkan played a very important role in the score of the match. Fenerbahce still has the hope for quarter finals with this result.

VATAN

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MELTING SLOWLY

A poll conducted by the A&G Research Company showed that the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party is losing support among Turkish voters. According to the poll, only 22.8 percent of voters would vote for the AK Party in an election. While 15.1 percent of the voters would vote for the Republican People's Party (CHP), 10.2 percent of the voters would cast their votes for the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). 37.3 percent of the voters are undecided.


22,000 PEOPLE LOSE JOBS IN A SINGLE MONTH

After a sharp drop in demand, companies in the Turkish provinces of Bursa, Denizli, Kocaeli, Konya, Bilecik, Gaziantep and Kahramanmaras are going through a tough time. The number of people laid off by the companies in these seven provinces in a single month has exceeded 22,000 people.


CUMHURIYET

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DO NOT WORRY ABOUT CRISIS, HAVE AT LEAST 3 CHILDREN

Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Turks should not worry about the global economic crisis and should try to have at least three children in their families. "By the year 2038, a large portion of Turkey's population would be the elderly. At that time, Turkey will seek for young individuals just as Germany does right now. In order to protect Turkey's best interests, each family should have at least three children," Erdogan said.


RADIKAL

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"GENOCIDE" EXPRESSION MAY SADDEN TURKEY

Views of Barack Obama, the new President of the United States, on matters which closely concern Turkey give hope to Ankara on Iraq.

However Obama, who earlier said he would acknowledge claims on "Armenian Genocide", also said Turkey occupied Cyprus.


GETS A SCORE BUT...

Fenerbahce soccer team of Turkey drew 0-0 with Arsenal soccer team of England at a match in London. Fenerbahce should defeat Porto and D. Kiev to qualify for quarter finals.


IMF: TURKEY DID NOT ASK FOR A PROGRAM

International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Turkey did not ask for a new economic program including loan.

AA