GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON DEC 17

HURRIYET
-- EUROPEAN COURT FINES TURKEY OVER ARMENIAN FOUNDATION CASES
The European Court of Human Rights ruled against Turkey in separate cases filed by two Armenian foundations. The court ordered Turkey to either return immoveables that belonged to the Samatya Armenian Foundation in Istanbul or pay a fine of 600,000 euros to the foundation. In the other case the court said Turkey would pay 275,000 euros to Yedikule Armenian Foundation in Istanbul.
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-- FINANCE MINISTER SAYS CRISIS OFFERED OPPRTUNITY FOR TURKEY
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said a global financial malady offered what he described as "great opportunities," adding that the country had "good days ahead". Unakitan also called for the introduction of hidden savings. "For the love of God, where did all that gold go? Pull out that 20 billion in gold from under your pillows," the finance minister said as he presented the country's new budget at parliament.
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MILLIYET
-- ALPARSLAN ASLAN TO BE TRIED IN SILIVRI
The Ankara High Criminal Court handed down two aggravated life in prison sentences to Alparslan Aslan and life in prison to Osman Yildirim on charges of being the perpetrators of an armed attack on the Council of State in Ankara and bomb attack on Cumhuriyet newspaper's offices in Istanbul. The court defended that there was no connection between this case and the Ergenekon case so the legal actions could not be consolidated. If the cases are consolidated, Osman Yildirim, who is also one of the most important witnesses in the Ergenekon case, will be able to make use of "repentance" and his sentence may fall to 9 years. The Supreme Court of Appeals asked that the decision on the case be overruled and wanted the cases to be consolidated.
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-- UNAKITAN: PLEASE TAKE OUT YOUR HIDDEN SAVINGS
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, who presented the 2009 budget, said although there was 53 percent savings in China and 35 percent savings in India, savings in Turkey was only at the level of 15 percent. Unakitan said, "Although Turkey imported gold worth of $24.5 billion, it only exported gold worth of $4 billion. I want Turkish people to bring out their hidden savings and contribute to the economy with these savings."
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SABAH
-- TURKISH SHIP HIJACKED
Turkish cargo ship, M/V Bogazici Harikasi, was hijacked by Somali pirates yesterday. Pirates have previously hijacked two Turkish ships in the Gulf of Aden. Spokesman for the U.S. Navy Nathan Christensen said that a cargo ship belonging to Isko Denizcilik company of Istanbul was hijacked. The company has not made any statements regarding the incident yet.
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-- HIGH-SPEED TRAIN READY FOR TRIPS
It was reported that the high-speed train line, thanks to which the journeys between the capital Ankara and the central Anatolian province of Eskisehir would be reduced to 1 hour and 15 minutes, would be ready by the end of 2008. Suleyman Karaman, director general of the Turkish State Railways (TCDD), said that test runs continued successfully and the tickets for a trip between Ankara and Eskisehir would cost 30-40 YTL (1 USD equals 1.56).

VATAN
-- SOMALI PIRATES HIJACK ONE MORE TURKISH SHIP
Pirates of Somali origin hijacked a ship belonging to Isko Denizcilik headquartered in Istanbul. The 100-meter cargo ship was carrying an Antigua-Barbuda flag. Somali pirates, who hijacked 40 ships in 2008, still hold in pledge 14 ships and 250 crew members.
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-- UNAKITAN CALLS PUBLIC NOT TO HIDE SAVINGS
Delivering a speech on the budget presentation, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that nearly $24.5 billion in gold had been imported in the last 5 years, however, $15-20 billion part of it was hidden as saving by citizens. Unakitan said such assets should be brought to light in order to be used by the Turkish economy.
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CUMHURIYET
-- LOCAL ELECTIONS MAY BE POSTPONED
As allegations rise regarding the abnormal increase in the number of voters and problems concerning the registers of voters, the Higher Board of Election (YSK) decided to hold an extraordinary meeting to assess the issue. Officials from Turkish Board of Statistics (TUIK) will also attend the meeting. Former deputy of Republican People's Party (CHP) and researcher Bulent Tanla said that the registers should be prepared again and the incorrect aspects should be amended. "The local elections may be postponed until the new registers are prepared," Tanla also said.
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RADIKAL
-- ANOTHER TURKISH SHIP HIJACKED
Somali pirates hijacked a Turkish ship named "Bosphorus Prodigy" in Aden. The pirates previously kidnapped two Turkish ships named "Neslihan" and "Karagol".
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-- FOUNDATION CONVICTION
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) was not satisfied with the amendment to the Foundations Law of Turkey. The ECHR decided Turkey to return properties of two Armenian foundations, otherwise, Turkey will pay 875,000 euro in compensation.
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-- SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS: COUNCIL OF STATE CASE SHALL BE CONSOLIDATED WITH ERGENEKON CASE
The Supreme Court of Appeals took seriously the claims that the attack on the Council of State and Ergenekon were connected, and decided to consolidate the two cases. Now the question is: Where will the court hear the case; Ankara or Istanbul?

YENI SAFAK
-- TURKEY WILL DWINDLE IF INTEREST RATES DO NOT DROP
The insistence of several banks to continue high interest rates despite the central bank's policy for low interest rates locks up the real sector. Expensive money is shown as the perpetrator of the rapid drop in growth graphics. Economic data showed that demand in production almost came to a halt in the third quarter. Many countries are looking for a remedy against the crisis by pumping money to markets at low interest rates.
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-- UNAKITAN: BRING OUT HIDDEN SAVINGS
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan called on everybody to be calm in the crisis period and noted, "Our people should bring out their hidden savings". Unakitan said Turkey may resist the crisis thanks to the measures it had taken.