GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON APR 04

HURRIYET

-- MARKETS DEMORALIZED    Â

The annual inflation rose to two-digit figure with March's inflation figures. The figures were above expectations. International rating organization Standard&Poor's revised Turkey's rating to negative from stable. With this news, one USD was over 1.31 new Turkish liras (YTL) and the stock exchange lost 2.01 percent in value.   Â
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-- DO NOT KEEP US WAITING, WE ARE BORED

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reproved the European Union during the Swedish Business Forum. "Do not keep us waiting, we are really tired of it," he said. Erdogan said the EU might say that it would not admit Turkey. "We would be pleased with this, we would say they did not like us and we would proceed on our own way," he also said.
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MILLIYET

-- SHOCKING DECISION FOR ANKARA

European Court of Justice in Luxembourg decided that inclusion of PKK terrorist organization in EU's list of terrorist organizations in 2002 was against the Union's law. The court's reason is; "the organization had not been informed earlier and it had the right to appeal" before including it in the list.

-- APPLAUSE FOR FENERBAHCE IN BUCHAREST

Turkish President Abdullah Gul --who is in Romania for NATO Summit-- watched the second half of the match (between Fenerbahce soccer team of Turkey and England's Chelsea team) at Turkish Embassy residence in Bucharest together with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and accompanying delegation. Gul, who is actually a fan of Besiktas soccer team, applauded Fenerbahce soccer team for their victory.
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-- DOGAN, TURKEY'S TAX RECORD HOLDER

Businessman Aydin Dogan has become the record holder of Turkey's income tax with 10.5 million YTL of taxes he paid in 2007.
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SABAH

-- THEY DOWNGRADED US

International rating organization, Standard&Poor's, revised Turkey's rating to negative from stable for the first time in six years. The rating organization downgraded Turkey's rating due to domestic political developments, high current (accounts) deficit and external conjuncture. This move had a negative impact on Turkish markets. One USD climbed over 1.3 new Turkish liras (YTL) again, and the stock exchange lost 2 percent in value.       Â
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-- PKK STILL TERRORIST

The European Court of Justice decided that PKK should be excluded from the European list of terrorist networks. However, EU's highest decision-making organ-- the Council of the European Union-- said this decision would not have any impact on the EU's list of terrorist organizations.
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VATAN

-- GREEK CYPRIOTS OPENED, CLOSED, OPENED LOKMACI!

Lokmaci Gate which was the symbol of division in Cyprus was opened at a ceremony yesterday. While Turkish Cypriots were celebrating, Greek Cypriots closed the gate 12 hours after they opened it with the pretext of existence of Turkish Cypriot police officers. When UN intervened, the gate was re-opened three hours later.
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-- CELL PHONE NUMBER PORTABILITY IN OCTOBER

All cell phone users, if they want, will be able to switch their GSM company by keeping their 10-digit cell phone numbers unchanged as of October. Works are on the final phase. The infrastructure will be completed this month.
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CUMHURIYET

-- TWO-DIGIT INFLATION

The prices were up in Turkey due to the global crisis and when the government could not meet expectations of the economy world. The consumer prices index was up 0.96 percent from February to March 2008, and the rise in producer prices was 3.17 percent. The annual inflation in March was announced as 9.15 percent in consumer prices and 10.5 in producer prices.
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-- EUROPE'S TERRORIST LIST ENIGMA

The European Court of Justice --the highest judicial organ of the European Union-- decided on a file submitted by terrorist Osman Ocalan, and ruled that the PKK should not be in the list of terrorist networks. The court found the decision made in 2002 to include PKK in the list of terrorist organization as wrong, saying that "the organization was not given the right to defend itself." The Court of Justice said it was not fair to include PKK in the list of terrorist networks. Experts say the list has been updated for 10 times since 2002, and therefore the court decision would not have a de facto effect. "There is still a legal cavity regarding EU's list of terrorist networks." On the other hand, Turkey's Foreign Ministry argued the PKK was not excluded from the list, and said similar incidents had occurred in the past.
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RADIKAL

-- AKP ASSUMES SOFTER ATTITUDE TOWARDS CLOSURE CASE

The Justice & Development Party (AKP) was harshly criticizing the closure case against itself a week ago, and it was even as harsh as saying that "the case has no legitimacy." On the day when the closure case was filed, the first statement of the AKP came from Dengir Firat. He said, "Some judicial organs should not make judiciary a means for their power struggle." PM Recep Tayyip Erodgan also reacted harshly a day after Dengir Firat, and said those who are doing this would suffer the consequences because the case had no legal and legitimate ground. The previous day, Erdogan put on brakes, and said, "the court fulfils its duties, and we are working on our defense." Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said Thursday the Constitutional Curt would make the most appropriate decision. The AKP plans to bring up a constitutional amendment bill in the long term.
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-- TURKEY TO BE CENTER OF GOLD, MINING LAW TO CHANGE

Energy & Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler visited Istanbul Gold Refinery established in Kuyumcukent. Representatives of gold mining industry accompanied Guler during his visit. Guler gave two good news. One of them was that Istanbul would become a center of gold and jewelry. Guler said, "we will also amend the mining law."

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YENI SAFAK

-- DO NOT KEEP US WAITING IF YOU WILL NOT ADMIT US

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the EU to be clear about Turkey's membership and asked the union not to keep Turkey waiting. "We are tired of continuously hearing the words 'but', 'however', 'if'," he said. Erdogan reaffirmed that Turkey will not give up its determination to become an EU member. "However, do not put political obstacles before us and do not keep Turkey waiting. You may say you would not admit Turkey, and we would be pleased. We would proceed on our own way in that case,"
 he also said.
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-- GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION ENJOYED TURKISH DESSERT "LOKMA"

"Lokmaci Barricade" in Cyprus was opened again 45 years later. The barricade was erected on Ledra Street in 1963 when inter-communal clashes began in Lefkosa. Turkish and Greek Cypriot neighbors in two sides of the street crossed to the other side by showing their ID cards yesterday. The neighbors hugged each other, and Turkish families welcomed their Greek Cypriot neighbors with Turkish dessert "lokma". However, the Greek Cypriot administration showed patrolling Turkish police as a pretext, and closed the gate to crossings in the evening. UN officials intervened and the gate was re-opened four hours later.
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