GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JULY 1

HURRIYET

--SECULARISM PRAISE FROM FRANCE TO ARMY

France is taking over the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) as of July 1st. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that Turkish army played an important role in democracy and undertook a great role in separating the government affairs from the mosque and religion. "This should not be forgotten," Kouchner also said.

Speaking to European journalists, the French minister said that the closure case against the Justice and Development Party (AKP) might have reflections on Europe, however defined it as "a domestic problem of Turkey." "Erdogan is a wise politician, he will (definitely) find a solution to this problem," he said.

Kouchner also said that the EU would open negotiations with Turkey on two or three chapters during the presidency of his country. "I cannot see any other country than Turkey that can be a better bridge among civilizations."

--GROWTH SURPRISE: 6.6 P.C.

Turkey, which grew 4.5 percent in the first quarter of 2007, made a surprise by growing 6.6 percent in the same period of 2008. The agriculture industry shrank 6.9 percent last year, however it grew 5.6 percent this year. Health and social services grew 11.8 percent. 4.4 percent of the surprise growth was due to growth in manufacturing industry, trade and transportation.

MILLIYET

--SIX CRITICAL MONTHS WITH FRANCE IN EU

It looks like France, which took over the rotating presidency of the European Union, will maintain a "wait & see" policy regarding Turkey.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that the closure case filed against ruling AKP was a domestic issue of Turkey. "If we took a stance before the decision is announced, we would create a drama," the minister said.

--SURPRISING GROWTH IN FIRST QUARTER

Although a serious decline was expected in the growth rate due to the global crisis, Turkey's Board of Statistics (TUIK) announced that the growth rate in the first quarter reached 6.6 percent thanks to the consumption and investment expenditures.

Such a surprising figure exceeded the market estimations by 35-40 percent. The expected growth rate was around 4 percent.

SABAH

--PRICE HIKE IN OIL PUSHES PEOPLE TO MASS TRANSPORTATION

The number of passengers using mass transportation in Istanbul has increased by 10 percent in the first three months of 2008. This increase was due to a 20 percent hike in the price of oil in a single year.

PRIME MINISTER SAYS "STAY" BUT HE IS COMING TO FENERBAHCE

The coach of the Spanish national football team Luis Aragones said he would be coming to Fenerbahce as their new coach despite a request from Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero to remain as the coach of the Spanish squad. Aragones stressed that it was "too late" for him to stay with the Spanish team.

VATAN

--VOTERS SEEKING A PARTY

The ruling AKP and the Republican People's Party (CHP) lost some of their votes when compared with the support they got in the previous general elections in July 2007. Indecisive voters reached a record percentage of 30.2 percent. A&G, the only survey company which said that AKP would win more than 47 percent of votes before July 22nd elections last year, carried out a new survey on what would happen if an election was held today.

According to the survey, AKP would win around 30.3 percent of votes. When the indecisive votes are distributed among the parties, this percentage reaches 43.4. The annulment of headscarf amendment raised AKP's votes by 3.7 points.

If AKP is closed, the new party will join the first upcoming elections. It will lose some votes but it will again be the first party.

Voters are seeking a new party. This can be understood from the fact that those who got their support back from the AKP did not start supporting CHP. CHP lost 4.6 percent of votes in the last two months.

The AKP supporters have got closer to the EU, which is reacting to the closure case. The support to EU membership is up to 52.4 percent.

--UNINVITED GUEST RETURNS HOME

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, accused of sodomy and sheltered at Turkey's Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, left the embassy building. Before he left, Ibrahim said, "I am leaving on my own will.

Malaysian government gave assurances to me." The Malaysian government accused Turkey of "intervening in domestic affairs of Malaysia". Then Turkey's Ambassador to Malaysia Barlas Ozener said, "we did not invite him but he came."

CUMHURIYET

--RUSSIA LETS ATATURK BOULEVARD FOR RENT

Within the framework of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's talks in Ankara, a protocol for renting of a part of Ankara's Ataturk Boulevard to the Ankara Municipality will be signed.

The part of the boulevard is located in front of the former office of the commercial attache of the Russian Embassy and it has been closed to traffic for almost a year. The municipality will pay an annual rental charge of $80,000 for the 50-meter road.

--IBRAHIM LEAVES TURKISH EMBASSY

Malaysia's main opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who took refuge in the Turkish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur claiming that his life was in danger, left the embassy yesterday as the Malaysian government assured him that he would be safe. Ibrahim, accused of sodomy, left the embassy building together with his wife.

RADIKAL

--FIRST QUARTER SURPRISE

Turkish economy grew 6.6 percent in the first quarter of 2008. However, economists state that all other statistics indicated a shrinkage in Turkish consumer demand.

--PRICE HIKE FOR NATURAL GAS AFTER ELECTRICITY

After a hike of 21 percent in the price of electricity, the Turkish government is preparing a price hike for natural gas in July. If the price hike for natural gas takes place, the price of natural gas utilized by residences would go up by 9 percent and businesses by 11 percent.

YENI SAFAK

--FIRST PREMIER IN MINE PIT

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit a mine pit in northern city of Zonguldak, and see the labor conditions himself. Erdogan will visit the mine pit in which 163 miners lost their lives in 1992 due to a mine gas explosion. Erdogan will be the first prime minister who will go into a mine pit.

--TURKEY GROWS 6.6 P.C.

Turkey grew 6.6 percent in the first quarter of 2008 despite global crisis, pessimism in markets and anti-democratic interventions. The biggest growth was seen in health and social services with a 11.8 percent. The agriculture sector, which shrank 6.9 percent in the first quarter of 2007, started to grow in 2008. The growth in agriculture, hunting and forestry was 5.6 percent in the first quarter of 2008.

--PLANS OF SABANCI ASSASSINATION IN ANKARA NOW

Belgium handed over DHKP-C files to Turkish authorities. These files will decipher the secret sides of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci's assassination. The files include clues about how Fehriye Erdal and her friends staged the assassination.