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MEMORANDUM TO MEDIA
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan harshly criticized the media in the group meeting of his Justice & Development (AK) Party. "Some media organs are in an effort to show Turkey as divided into two," he told. Erdogan said, "they think they will gain something by depicting two different Turkeys, producing cyber-polarization and raising tension." On the other hand, Turkish Journalists' Association criticized Erdogan's stance on the media. "This does not suit a Turkey in the 21st century. The freedom of press should not be forgotten in these days when slogans of freedom are chanted."
SHE IS WINNER IN SALSA, SECOND RUNNER-UP IN TANGO
In a competition that took place in Belgium with participation of 680 couples from 41 countries, dancers of Turkish Dancing Federation won the first prize in salsa, became the second runner-up in tango and the third in Latin dances.
JANISSARY MUSIC FROM RED ARMY
Turkish Culture & Tourism Ministry aims to give messages of friendship in the Turkish Culture Year to be celebrated in Russia in April. Therefore, the Janissary Band of the Ministry will perform "Kalinka", whereas the Red Army Choir will play the "Ceddin Deden" (the song the Ottoman Janissary Band used to sing when soldiers were going on a military campaign) in the concert hall of the Kremlin Palace.
MILLIYET
ANGER AT OPPOSITION MEDIA
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the Turkish media for acting pro-Republican People's Party (CHP). "CHP chairman Deniz Baykal shows us hangman's table. What kind of a democrat is he? We entered politics with those white shrouds. We are ready to pay the price in this issue," Erdogan said in response to comments made by Baykal on the headscarf issue.
SIGNATURES AGAINST HEADSCARF REACH 5,325
The signature campaign initiated by the University Councils Association against headscarves in universities is growing rapidly. In eight days, 5,325 academicians put their signatures against constitutional amendments making headscarves permissible in universities.
SABAH
WE SET OUT WITH WHITE SHROUD
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted harshly to main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal who earlier said, "you should take the risk of execution" while criticizing Erdogan on constitutional amendments regarding headscarf ban at universities.
"Leader of the main opposition started to make judgements, manipulate and give advice to judiciary before the president made any evaluations. He gives the direction to the scaffold. What kind of democrat are you?" Erdogan remarked.
"We set out with white shrouds. We are ready to pay the price," he added.
NOT WITH SHROUD
Baykal responded to Erdogan's remarks who said "we set out with white shrouds."
"We do not want to see you in white shrouds. We want to see you respectful to the constitution just like a prime minister. We believe that we have to send you away from the government with democracy and election," Baykal answered.
ARTICLE 17 MUST PASS
Opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Chairman Devlet Bahceli called on Justice & Development (AK) Party to comply with the agreement they reached to lift the ban on headscarf:
"It is a must to re-arrange article 17 (of the law on higher education board) if we want to keep away chador and veil from universities," he said.
VATAN
AK PARTY GETS WARNED: "YOU MAY BE CLOSED"
Sabih Kanadoglu, Honorary Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, said that in the recent past two political parties were closed for using religion in politics and defending headscarf. "Political parties have an obligation to act based on the Turkish Constitution. If this obligation is put aside, a political party then deserves to get closed," Kanadoglu stressed.
DIVORCE CASE TO COST 4,400 YTL
Istanbul Bar announced new fees on Tuesday. 1 hour of consulting an attorney will cost at least 550 YTL. A divorce case will cost the client 4,400 YTL.
CUMHURIYET
BARAK IN ANKARA TO SELL MISSILE SYSTEM
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak held talks in Ankara to learn the position of Turkish government to sell more missile systems. Barak met Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and FM Ali Babacan. Gonul said 15 agreements have been signed with Israel, adding that purchase of a spy satellite was not on the agenda. However, he said Turkish officials from Undersecretary of Defense Industries would discuss the buying of satellite with their Israeli counterparts.
KANADOGLU WARNS AK PARTY ONCE AGAIN: YOU WILL DESERVE TO BE SHUT DOWN
Sabih Kanadoglu, Honorary Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, recalled that two political parties that acted against secularism and upheld headscarf were shut down.
"If you act against secularism, the sine qua non of democracy, you deserve to be shut down," Kanadoglu said.
RADIKAL
ALSO BAHCELI CONFIRMS
Devlet Bahceli, the chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), demanded an amendment to the supplementary article 17 of the Higher Education Board (YOK) law to prevent students from entering universities with chador, veil or similar clothes. Bahceli, who supported the Justice & Development (AK) Party for the constitutional amendment bill freeing headscarf in universities, is concerned that some students may try to wear chador or veil in universities. In the group meeting of his party, Bahceli said he has agreed with the AK Party to amend the supplementary article 17 of the YOK law. "MHP is committed to this compromise," he told.
ISO WARNS: PRIORITY SHOULD BE ECONOMY
Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) released an economic situation survey which said expectations were negative in five economic indicators. ISO Chairman Tanil Kucuk said priority should be economy. "They may think that they can raise their votes by political preferences, but the priority is economic performance. 2008 can be a lost year in industry," he told.
TURKIYE
DEATH MACHINE OF PKK
Police arrested a PKK terrorist with an alias "Rojin-Nergis" in southern province of Mersin. She was involved in many bloody attacks. S.A., who joined the terrorist organization in 1992, planned the attack in which terrorists blocked a road and killed three village guards and a civilian. She staged attacks on two gendarmery stations. The terrorists, who raided villages and executed many civilians, were trained in north of Iraq. She escaped from the air raids of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) on north of Iraq and came to Mersin to stage sensational attacks. She was planning to run to Europe after these attacks.
BARAK: TURKEY IS A SOURCE OF STABILITY
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak is actually in Ankara to take up cooperation in defense and regional matters. "Everybody respects Turkey which is a bridge between Europe and the Middle East," he told.
ZAMAN
THEY USE MASKS TO DISGUISE THEIR INTERESTS
Constitutional amendment that passed at the parliament and eased the ban on headscarf at universities was submitted to President's Office. While all eyes are on President Abdullah Gul, controversies were brought to parliamentary meetings of political parties.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan lashed out at those who consider the arrangement as "tyranny of the majority" and talk about chaos. He criticized main opposition CHP and some media groups.
"If there is a chaos and inconsistency in Turkey, it is in their minds," he said.
ROBERTO CARLOS WANTS TO MEET PRESIDENT GUL
There is a huge interest on Turkish football club Fenerbahce's Brazilian star Roberto Carlos. His fans jostle each other to have his sign. However, his biggest desire is to meet President Abdullah Gul. The other name he most wants to meet is the American actor Tom Cruise.
YENI SAFAK
NO ONE SHOULD FEEL STRANGE IN HOMELAND, GUL
Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that differences among citizens would not cause segregation. "We should not display problems as unsolvable. This country belongs to all citizens and we will all be happy here. No one should feel strange in the homeland," Gul noted.
7 STOREY HOTEL UNDER WATER
A 7 storey hotel will be erected under water in Istanbul's Dolmabahce district. The construction of the hotel will cost around 100 million USD and end by 2010.
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