GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAR 29

HURRIYET

-- JOURNALIST BRIEFLY INTERROGATED OVER MISSING IRANIAN GENERAL AT ISTANBUL AIRPORT

Amir F. Ibrahimi, an Iranian journalist critical of the Tehran regime, was briefly detained and interrogated late Thursday at Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport over a missing Iranian general. The missing general, Ali Reza Asghari, disappeared during a visit to Turkey in March 2007. Ibrahimi, who had a German passport, was sent to Berlin on Friday. "I called my friends when I was in detention and they
contacted German and U.S. officials. U.S. Embassy stepped in and told Turkish officials that I was a refugee," Ibrahimi said.

-- DANES MARCHED FOR SLAIN TURKISH BOY

Over ten thousand people marched Thursday night in Danish capital in memory of a slain 16 year-old Turkish teenager. Danes and Turkish migrants carried torches and shouted slogans calling for "an end to
violence." Ozgur Deniz Uzun, a paper boy, was killed by three Danish racists last week in Copenhagen.

MILLIYET

-- STRIKE ON APRIL 1ST

Revolutionary Labour Unions Confederation (DISK), Confederation of Public Employees Labour Unions (KESK), Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers & Architects (TMMOB), Turkish Medical Association, and Turkish Dentists Association will stop working on April 1st to protest Social Security Reform. Other organizations under EMEK Platform will not join the strike. KESK Chairman Ismail Hakki Tombul said, "our support to demonstrations of Emek Platform will continue, but we have prepared a different action plan."

-- TURKEY'S IS BANKASI BREAKS PROFIT RECORD

Turkey's Is Bankasi Director General Ersin Ozince announced that the bank had the highest profit in banking sector with gross 3.7 billion YTL in 2007. (1USD = 1.28 YTL) The net profit of the bank increased 53 percent and reached 1.7 billion YTL in 2007 when compared with 2006.

SABAH

-- GIANT DERBY NOT TO END WITHOUT SCORE

Today is the day of critical local derby in Super League. Leader Fenerbahce soccer team will play against Besiktas soccer team (two points behind) at 7:00 p.m. today. The match which will take place in
Besiktas' field is expected to end with scores; and it is important for championship.

-- "WE REMAINED BEHIND IN EU ISSUE"

Turkish President Abdullah Gul addressed seven non-governmental organizations including the Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB): "we are remaining behind in the EU issue. 2007 was the election year, and passed difficult. I will fulfill my responsibilities. I will do my best to make common sense the priority of the society. It is wrong to think there is a chaos milieu."

VATAN

-- AND THE BAYKAL CRITERIA

Deniz Baykal, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) which is a major share holder in Turkey's Is Bankasi, has implemented his own criteria when deciding for a number of appointments to the executive board of the bank. Former CHP official Adnan Keskin, former CHP deputy from Antalya Tuncay Ercenk, former CHP deputy from Istanbul Ismet Atalay and Ali Sozen, brother of former Istanbul mayor Nurettin Sozen, have claimed seats at the board. And they have nothing to do with banking as they all studied law. Is Bankasi has a market value of about 11 billion USD and 80 billion YTL assets. CHP is the holder of 28.2 percent share in the bank.

-- ERDOGAN: "NO ONE SHOULD EXPECT ANY BACK STEP FROM US"

Upon his return from his Balkans tour, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated once again that the government "would not take a back step." "They say 'everyone should step back' but politicians do not make such a thing. If something is wrong, as the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and as the premier we would make it right. Our government is determined to fight against corruption and gangs and of course there are circles who are weary of this. Now that we have foiled their business, they are hunting for victims. No one should expect any back step from us in these issues," Erdogan said.

CUMHURIYET

-- AKP REPORT IN HANDS OF JUDGES

The report of the rapporteur --who examined that indictment of chief prosecutor's office in Court of Appeals regarding closure case against ruling Justice & Development Party (AKP)-- was distributed to members of Constitutional Court. The members are expected to make the preliminary examination on Monday. If the indictment is accepted, it will be sent to AKP for preliminary defense.

-- PROTESTS TO START AGAIN

Revolutionary Labour Unions Confederation (DISK), Confederation of Public Employees Labour Unions (KESK), Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers & Architects (TMMOB), Turkish Medical Association, and Turkish Dentists Association will stop working at 2:00 p.m. on April 1st and hold mass demonstrations across Turkey to protest Social Security and General Health Insurance draft law.

RADIKAL

-- ERDOGAN: MOST APPROPRIATE DECISION WILL BE MADE BY CONSTITUTIONAL COURT

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed non-governmental organizations and wanted them to say what is wrong, and then he would do the necessary thing. Regarding the closure case against Justice & Development Party (AKP), Erdogan said that the most appropriate decision will certainly be made by Constitutional Court.

-- AYDIN DOGAN CHAMPION OF THE YEAR

Aydin Dogan --who ranked the second in Istanbul Income Tax list last year-- has become the record holder with 10.4 million YTL of tax he paid. Husnu Mustafa Ozyegin ranked the second while Semahat Sevim Arsel ranked the third in the list.

YENI SAFAK

-- TURKISH DOCTOR DEFEATS BIRD FLU

Turkish doctors changed the genes of deadly bird flu virus and prevented it to infect people. U.S. health magazine CDC Emerging Infectious Disease defined the study as a blazing discovery.

-- CLOCKS TO BE ADVANCED FOR THE LAST TIME

Advanced hour practice will be permanent to benefit from daylight more and make electricity saving. Clocks will be advanced by one hour from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. tonight.