GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JULY 5

HURRIYET

-- TURKS DESIGN AND BUILD THE MOST MODERN STADIUM

Kazakhstan's most modern stadium, designed and constructed by Turkish companies, has been opened by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in the capital city of Astana. Turkish and international football figures, such as Turkish national team coach Fatih Terim, former Galatasaray players Hakan Sukur and Hasan Sas, Milan's Georgian defender Kakha Kaladze and Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko, attended the opening of the stadium, which has the capacity to host 30,000 spectators.�

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-- ANKARA-SOFIA COOPERATION AGAINST EXTREME RIGHT

In a bid to stop the rise of extreme rightist ATAKA, the Bulgarian government wants Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origin to cast votes in the country's elections. The Turkish government is helping Sofia about the matter.

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-- HEDO TO MAKE 53 MLN DOLLARS IN 5 YEARS

Turkish basketball player Hidayet Turkoglu had a brilliant season last year with the Orlando Magic and now he is moving to the Toronto Raptors. Hedo made a deal with the Raptors on a five-year contract for $53 million. Hedo has become the most expensive Turkish athlete ever.

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MILLIYET

-- "POLITICS WILL BE INVOLVED BARRACKS" OBJECTION

The General Staff conveyed its legal view on the amendment regarding the trial of military personnel before civilian courts to the president. Here are the General Staff’s three main objections:

1- It is against the Constitution. The amendment is contrary to Article 145 of the Constitution regulating the functioning of the military judiciary. The jurists of the General Staff say, "This article of the Constitution clearly states that the military courts are obliged to deal with all of the crimes committed by military personnel in military zones."

2- Chain of command will be affected. This new arrangement will harm the immunity of the military zones, and have a negative impact on the chain of command of the Turkish Armed Forces, or TSK. It will also pave the way for involvement of politics in the barracks.

3- Judicial conflict will occur. If the arrangement is put into force, there will be a serious authority conflict between the military and civilian judiciary.

-- FROM ERDOGAN TO BAYKAL: TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF SOLDIERS

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused Deniz Baykal, the leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, of putting politics over soldiers, police and the judiciary. Erdogan called on Baykal to "take his hands off soldiers" and said, "Make civilian politics, and behave like a civilian."

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-- "IMMUNITY SHOULD CHANGE" MESSAGE

CHP chairman Deniz Baykal, who visited the eastern provinces of Kars and Ardahan, said that parliamentary immunity was one of the obstacles before fight against corruption. Baykal said, "Parliamentarians will have immunity, however, there is no freedom to steal. In Turkey, stealing and corruption is free, but expressing views is a crime."

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SABAH

-- DEEP SOLIDARITY

Following controversies over the document, the top of the state has come to an agreement on "intelligence sharing.” Undersecretary of the Prime Minister's Office Efkan Ala and Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Hasan Igsiz have set up a consultation and information mechanism. The most important pillar of this mechanism is the intelligence sharing between intelligence units.

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-- 5-MLN-DOLLAR NEW HIGHWAY

A new highway, which will go through the third bridge to be constructed over the Istanbul Strait, will link Adapazari in the east and Tekirdag in the west. The 350-kilometer highway is expected to cost around $5 billion.

VATAN

-- 60 MLN DOLLARS FOR HEDO

Turkish basketball player Hidayet Turkoglu, who was thought to play for Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA next season, turned his face to the Toronto Raptors in the last minute. The U.S. media wrote that Turkoglu made a deal with the Toronto Raptors for five years for $60 million. It has been learned that Hedo's wife, Banu, convinced Hedo to play for the Toronto Raptors. Banu told Hedo that Portland was on the west coast of the United States and traveling to Turkey took six hours more from Portland, than the east coast of the United States. Banu also told Hidayet that many Turks live in Toronto, and convinced the Turkish basketball player to move to Toronto.

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-- MESSAGE OF UNITY FROM TWO PATRIARCHS

Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church met Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul on Saturday. The two patriarchs gave the message of unity. There has been an "ecumenism row" between Moscow and the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate for 500 years. Moscow does not acknowledge Bartholomew as the spiritual leader of 250 million Orthodox people in the world. Patriarch Kirill, who was elected six months ago, made his first visit to Istanbul. This caused interpretations that "the Russian acknowledged the importance of Fener."

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CUMHURIYET

-- SECRET WITNESS SYSTEM TO CAUSE PROBLEMS

Omer Suha Aldan, a retired state security court (DGM) prosecutor, criticized the "secret witness" system that is high on the agenda with the Ergenekon investigation. Aldan proposed the U.S. system in order to get rid of the problems that may occur in the future. "Accordingly, the suspect attends the hearing without hiding his/her identity, face or voice and responds to questions. Then, authorities decide whether or not there is need for protection and take the witness under protection."

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-- RUSSIAN PATRIARCH KIRILL IN ISTANBUL

Patriarch Kirill, who was chosen the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in February, met Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew in Istanbul despite the power struggle between them. Speaking at the welcoming ceremony, Patriarch Bartholomew said, "Your presence here means you have brought the message of unity, solidarity and fraternity." Kirill said he hoped his visit would be a new beginning.

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RADIKAL

-- MILITARY'S VIEWS SUBMITTED TO PRESIDENT

The Turkish General Staff and Defense Ministry submitted to the president their objections on the legal amendment that would allow the trial of military personnel by civilian courts. Here are military's views drafted upon President Abdullah Gul's request:

1-It is against the Constitution.

2-The law violates immunity of military zones.

3-The span of duty of military and civilian judiciaries would overlap.

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-- CRITICISM OVER NEW ARRANGEMENT ON "CASUAL LABORERS": IT'S SLAVERY

Labor unions and experts reacted against the new arrangement on "casual laborers," which was made to fight against rising unemployment after the economic crisis. The Turkish Employment Organization has almost completed outlines of the "job contract,” which covers employees' rights such as duration of the job, compensation and holidays. The contract would be signed by the casual laborer, employer and the Special Employment Office. However, labor unions and experts said the new arrangement would not increase employment. They said it would disfranchise and guarantees would remain only on paper.

YENI SAFAK

-- TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF SOLDIERS, MAKE CIVILIAN POLITICS

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan called on media and politicians to behave responsibly about defending democracy. Erdogan called on Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party, or CHP, to "behave like a civilian and make civilian politics."

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-- FEAST OF RAMADAN BECOMES HOLIDAY IN NEW YORK

Turks living in the United States have experienced a great success, and ensured that schools would be closed during the Feast of Ramadan and Feast of Sacrifice. The New York City Council decided to close schools during the two feasts so that Muslims can celebrate them.

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-- GLITTERING ISTANBUL

The Bosphorus Bridge, the pearl of Istanbul, was lit with a new lighting system. The Philips company, which has also lit up the Eiffel Tower, the pyramids of Egypt, the Acropolis, London’s Big Ben Tower, has re-lit the Bosphorus Bridge. The project cost some 3 million euros. There are 1,760 light sources on cables, 166 on main cables, 860 on towers and 478 on barriers.