GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAR 19

HURRIYET
-- WHY UNEMPLOYMENT IS RISING
State Minister for economy Mehmet Simsek explained why unemployment increased to record-high level. "More people seek jobs at times of economic crisis. The labor force participation rate rises especially for women during these times," he said. Simsek said around 150,000 or 200,000 people lost their jobs due to the crisis. Turkey's population is 72 million. Over 50 million people are of employment age and half of these people do not seek jobs," he said. However, he said pessimism was being pumped into people, adding, "Ok, right, the unemployment rate is high. But we should see the cause. I am telling this to keep our businessmen's morale high."
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-- BUSINESSPEOPLE AT DOWNING STREET 10
Ahead of G20 leader’s summit to be held in London on April 2, prominent business figures of G20 countries gathered at Downing Street 10, residence and office of the British prime minister. Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Chairperson Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag was there to represent the Turkish business world. She was one of the three businesswomen taking part at the meeting. She said the meeting discussions say that "the way to weather the economic crisis was not to retire into shells".
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MILLIYET
-- THIRST TO KILL MORE THAN WARS
The President of World Water Council Loic Fauchon said that "in the future, more people would die of thirst than in wars. The absence of water in certain regions will be the cause of diseases that will result in deaths." Fauchon is currently in Istanbul attending the 5th World Water Forum.
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-- IMF'S MISSION MAY EXPAND, YALCINDAG
The chairwoman of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag said that the IMF and World Bank may have to do more in order to help the world get out of the global financial crisis. In fact, the mission of the IMF may expand in the face of the ongoing global crisis, Yalcindag stressed.
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SABAH
-- "IT IS TIME TO BID FAREWELL TO ARMS"
The remarks of Iraq's president that "The PKK will lay down arms" caused repercussions. Ahmet Turk, the chairman of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), said, "We also want weapons to be silent." Ibrahim Binici, a DTP parliamentarian from Sanliurfa, said, "It is time to bid farewell to arms. Turkey needs this. Arms should not be a method of seeking rights." Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat, an MP from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), said that if a general amnesty was issued, members of the terrorist organization PKK could come down from the mountains. Also, journalist Ilknur Cevik, who met with Talabani, quoted Iraq's president as saying that the terrorist organization PKK would be isolated if it did not abide by the call to lay down arms.
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-- "THERE CAN BE NO PEACE WITHOUT TURKEY"
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Turkey should be among the countries which mediate for Middle Eastern peace. Al-Assad said that Turkey was successful when the U.S. and European policies failed.
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-- KURDISH VERSION OF KORAN FROM RELIGIOUS DIRECTORATE
Mehmet Gormez, the deputy head of the Religious Affairs Directorate, said, "we aim to issue a version of the Koran in all languages and dialects. A group of experts is comparing three or four different versions of the Koran in Kurdish, and working on a better and broader Kurdish version."

VATAN
-- KORAN IN KURDISH
Following the government's decision to broadcast TV programs in Kurdish, Turkey's Religious Department is making preparations to publish the Koran in the Kurdish language. In the long run, the Religious Department is making plans to publish the Koran in all languages and dialects.
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-- NO IMPACT OF GLOBAL CRISIS ON HOTEL PRICES
The global financial crisis did not have an impact on hotel prices in Europe and did not cause a reduction in hotel fees. According to research, Istanbul was the European city that earned the most from hotel rooms in 2008 with a 23.5 percent increase. On the average, Istanbul earned $159 per room, while Moscow earned $250 per room in 2008.
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CUMHURIYET
-- CITIZENSHIP BENEFIT
Labor unionists and academicians offered a new formula to the government to overcome the economic crisis with minimum damage. Economists said the government should cut defense and similar budgets in order to allocate more for unemployment and education. Professor Hayri Kozanoglu said the government should create jobs and pay benefits to those who do not have any earnings during times of crisis.
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-- GENERAL PARDON DISCUSSED
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan spoke about Iraq's President Jalal Talabani's proposal that a general pardon for the terrorist organization PKK would contribute to a solution. Babacan said the government discussed it with the Iraqi government and the regional administration in the north of Iraq.
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RADIKAL
-- NATION SEEKS ITS RIGHT, STATE FINDS SOLUTION
When the Higher Board of Election (YSK) said that citizens could not vote without presenting an ID cards bearing an identification number in next week's local elections, citizens rushed into the birth registration offices. Almost 3.5 million voters do not have ID numbers on their cards. Long queues formed outside birth registration offices in almost all cities. Political parties at the parliament asked the YSK to "be more flexible". President Abdullah Gul intervened to find a solution summoning YSK Chairman Muammer Aydin to the presidential palace and convening YSK to find a solution. Citizens can get birth registration document bearing the ID number from the birth registration offices, and can cast their votes with that document. YSK chairman said, "This document can be given in three or four seconds, and the head of the family can get the documents of all members of the family."
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-- JITEM OPERATION
Eight people, claimed to be PKK informants and JITEM (gendarmerie intelligence) members were detained in southeastern town of Silopi under an instruction of the prosecutor of the Ergenekon case. Special Forces staged the operation.

YENI SAFAK
-- GIANT RELIEF FOR ISTANBUL'S TRAFFIC
The excavations in the giant highway tunnel, the most important leg of the "Seven Tunnels on Seven Hills" project, was completed at record speed. Two separate 2,307-meter tunnels were excavated in a short time like 10 months. Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Kadir Topbas said, "Teams are also working on three tunnels, including this tunnel. We are writing history in Istanbul with these projects. This tunnel will become operational at the end of this year."
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-- IN LOVE OF KADIKOY
Galatasaray soccer team of Turkey are hosting Hamburg SV at Istanbul's Ali Sami Yen Stadium tonight. Galatasaray drew 1-1 with Hamburg in the first leg of the UEFA Cup Round of 16. Galatasaray can qualify for the quarter finals if they draw 0-0 with Hamburg. Galatasaray's doctors are trying to heal Arda Turan, who was injured in a Super League match against Trabzonspor last weekend, for the match. Kewell will replace Emre Asik, who is suspended, as defender.