GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JULY 6

HURRIYET

--NO WAY TO DISCRIMINATION

Citizens For European Development of Bulgaria, or GERB, a political party known for its "moderate objection to Turks," got the highest rate of votes in the general elections held in Bulgaria yesterday. Neither the Turkish-Bulgarian solidarity against discrimination, nor votes of the Bulgarians living in Turkey could save the coalition that was being criticized for corruption.

       �

Moreover, Volen Siderov, the chairman of National Union Attack, or ATAKA, a right-wing extremist party of Bulgaria that claims Turkish people should be deported from the country, gained the results it expected from the elections.

       �

--"SEASON OF TURKEY" BEGINS IN FRANCE

French audiences and members of the press showed great interest in the performance of the Turkish dance troop, "Fire of Anatolia" and the music performance of "Mercan Dede" that were held in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris as part of "Season of Turkey" activities in France. After his performance, Mercan Dede accompanied a group of whirling dervishes with his music.

       �

MILLIYET

--HILTON TO GROW BY 2 FOLD IN NEXT 2 YEARS

The Hilton Hotel Corporation's new Hilton Hotel was opened in Dalaman on Sunday in a ceremony attended by Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertugrul Gunay. Hilton's hotel in Dalaman was constructed in 3.5 years at a cost of around 100 million euros. A senior Hilton official said Sunday that they intend to grow in Turkey two fold in the next two years. Hilton Hotel Corporation is making plans to open hotels in Antalya, Kusadasi, Bodrum and Cesme.

       �

--NABUCCO TO CREATE 5,000 NEW JOBS IN TURKEY

Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz said that the Nabucco natural gas pipeline will make Turkey an "energy depot". "The Nabucco project will create jobs for 5,000 Turks," Yildiz said.

       �

SABAH

--SEASON OF TURKEY IN PARIS

The Turkish dance troop, Fire of Anatolia, and Turkish musician Mercan Dede, took to the stage in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris as part of the “Season of Turkey” activities.

       �

Whirling dervishes and Mercan Dede performed together and fascinated the 10,000 strong audience.

The Fire of Anatolia was also loudly applauded by the mixed Turkish and French audience after their performance with Turkish melodies.

       �

--TURKEY TO WEATHER CRISIS EARLY, GROW FASTER

Nobel prize winning economists agreed on Turkey, but disagree on the U.S. economy.

       �

Chicago University Professor Robert Lucas said the worst of the crisis was behind. Lucas said the Turkish economy would recover quickly. Growth will be as quick as the contraction, he said, adding that the U.S. economy would recover this year.

       �

Another economist, Professor Edward Prescott from Arizona University, said that Turkey would overcome the crisis and continue to grow. However, he said the U.S. economy would not grow fast in the next 10 years due to wrong decisions taken.

       �

VATAN

--TURKEY PROMOTION FOR TURKS IN PARIS

Activities of the “Season of Turkey,” which were organized to promote Turkish culture to French people, started on Sunday. But there were only a couple of French people at the opening of the event.

       �

France and Turkey allocated 23 million euros for the Season of Turkey launched with performances from musician Mercan Dede and dance troop, Fire of Anatolia, in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

       �

The event was free, but Turkish people living in and around Paris showed more interest than French people. A couple of French people attending the event complained about lack of advertisement. Some of they were just passing by and decided to take a look as they heard the music. Some said they were invited by their Turkish friends. In the end, Turks enjoyed the opening night by themselves. Trocadero Square was just like Taksim Square in Istanbul.

       �

Activities of the Season of Turkey will continue for nine months. Activities were almost cancelled due to the stance taken by French President Nicolas Sarkozy over Turkey's EU membership bid. The reason cited for the limited advertising for the events. More than half of the French nation is opposed to Turkey joining the EU. The Season of Turkey aims to overcome that prejudice.

       �

--GUL TALKS WITH OBAMA ON IRAQ AND ARMENIA

Turkish President Abdullah Gul spoke with U.S. President Barack Obama by telephone on Sunday.

       �

The two leaders discussed security and regional issues, sources told Vatan.

       �

Gul and Obama spoke about extradition of several executives of the terrorist organization PKK who are in European countries and the north of Iraq, sources said. The president also discussed talks between Turkey and Armenia.

       �

CUMHURIYET

--EYES SET ON GUL

According to sources, President Abdullah Gul, who has extended the 15-day period set for examining the law paving the way for the trial of military personnel by civilian courts to July 14, may reach a decision this week. The General Staff expresses its objection to the law claiming that it is against the Constitution and that it would give way to political intervention in the army. Meanwhile, the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, states that the arrangement should be adopted in line with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, or ECHR.

       �

--WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE ATTITUDE

Commenting on Premier Tayyip Erdogan's remarks stating that "labor unions were free to go on a strike", Mustafa Kumlu, chairman of the Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions, or Turk-Is, said, "We are ready for everything."

   �    

"Our talks still continue with the relevant minister. If Mr. Premier's approach refusing to give the unions what they want and calling them to go on a strike is an attitude, we will understand that. We only want what we deserve. If a strike is needed to get it, we will do it," Kumlu said.

       �

RADIKAL

--CAFE HOUSES IN TURKEY MAY GO OUT OF BUSINESS DUE TO NEW SMOKING LAW

A new law prohibiting smoking in cafe houses and restaurants in Turkey will go into effect on July 19. Once the new law goes into effect, experts say that most cafe houses in Turkey will go out of business. Around one million people working in cafe houses will lose their jobs.

       �

--OPPOSITION LEADER BAYKAL SAYS CHP NEVER FAVORED MILITARY COUP

Chairman of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP, Deniz Baykal, said that the CHP has never favored military coups. Any related assertions on the CHP are baseless, Baykal said.

YENI SAFAK

--112,000 EMERGENCIES

The justice system has sounded the alarm. With thousands of files are pending in courts, there are nearly 40,000 of 112,000 people in jail awaiting trial.

       �

Judges and prosecutors have to deal with an average 842 files a year.

       �

There is an increase in the number of prisoners and if the increase continues, prisoner’s numbers could reach as high as 150,000 next year, sources said. There are 384 jails in Turkey.

       �

"There are 112,000 people in our prisons which are now full," said Nizamettin Kalaman, Director-General of Prisons and Detention Centers of Turkey.

Kalaman suggested a larger scope for probation to reduce the number of prisoners.

       �

--TURKEY NOT THREAT BUT CHANCE FOR EU

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband made a call to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who are against Turkey's EU membership. Miliband said, "We should stick to our words."

       �

Miliband said Turkey would be a star in 2017 and added that Turkey would add power to the EU.

   �