GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON DEC 12

HURRIYET

--VICTORY FOR THE BLIND IN EDUCATION

Hale Bacakoglu, who gained notoriety after winning a television quiz show in 1988, was appointed to head the special education unit of Turkey’s Education Ministry, 16 years after her victory. Bacakoglu has put important steps forward in the education of people with disabilities, in particular, the blind, since she was appointed. 

--100-METERS DISTANCE TO BALLOT BOXES IN TURKEY'S EAST
The government is preparing to take a series of measures for the security of ballot boxes to be used during the upcoming local elections in Turkey’s Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions.

Accordingly, only election officers and voters will be permitted to go near ballot boxes, while others will be asked to wait 100 meters away. Moreover, "collective voting" will be prohibited in some villages and rural areas.

--COCA COLA'S MAGNIFICENT TURK
Muhtar Kent carries on with his magnificent rise in the world's biggest non-alcoholic beverage producer and retailer Coca Cola Company. Kent, who became Coca Cola's CEO in July 2008, will also take over the chairmanship of the company in 2009.

MILLIYET
--OFFICIAL NUMBER OF MINORITIES 89,000
The Foreign Ministry released figures on the number of minorities living in Turkey. According to the report of the ministry, it is out of question to give the ecumenic title to the patriarchate, and also it is impossible to open Heybeliada Seminary. The report says 60,000 Armenians, 25,000 Jews and 3,000-4,000 Greeks are living in Turkey.

--GOVERNOR OFFERS HIS HANDS TO BATMAN
Governor Recep Kizilcik, who was appointed to the eastern province of Batman one year ago, provided nearly 50 million euro of investment to be made in the city. Kizilcik said, "Besides the financial value and employment, we have also changed the psychological atmosphere. This is very important."

--1.4 MILLION NEW ELECTORS IN ISTANBUL
While people are debating that the number of electors increased 6 million prior to the local elections, Milliyet received information about the number of voters in various cities.

Accordingly, there are 1.4 million new voters in Istanbul and 267,000 in the western province of Izmir. The increase in eastern Anatolia was also interesting.

SABAH
--PATIENT MIGRATION TO EAST
Health line reversed. Patients are being transferred from hospitals in big cities due to lack of available beds to modern hospitals in eastern Anatolia.

SHOPPING TOUR FOR 330,000 TOURISTS
Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) is preparing to bring 330,000 tourists from Greece, Bulgaria and Gulf countries between March 15 and April 15 to refresh the markets. ITO will cooperate with hotels and tourism agencies, and provide cheap travel and accommodation to tourists.

VATAN

--"STATE FATHER" MOVE FROM ERDOGAN

The government is changing the social assistance system prior to the local elections. Financial and in-kind assistance will be distributed from a single center. People without income, as well as the old, disabled and pregnant women will be put on a salary.

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--RUSSIAN INVOLVEMENT IN ASSASSINATION

Russian media gave a large place to death of Chechen commander Islam Canibekof (38), who was assassinated in front of his house in Umraniye district of Istanbul. According to the Russian newspapers, the shells which were found in the scene, belonged to MSP Groza pistols. These pistols have been used by Russian Military Intelligence (GRU) since 1970.

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CUMHURIYET

-- TURKISH ARMED FORCES GIVE NO CHANCE TO TERRORISM

A total of 1,049 terrorists were neutralized in counter-terrorism operations waged all across Turkey since the beginning of 2008. According to the web-site of the Turkish General Staff, 670 terrorists were killed, 214 were captured and 165 terrorists surrendered to Turkish security forces during the period to December 2008.

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RADIKAL

--HARSH WARNING FROM EU: DON'T FORGET ABOUT REFORMS

The EU said that Turkey should double its efforts for the implementation of a series of long-awaited steps and listed the areas in which it expected reforms. The EU warned Turkey on reforms in the enlargement section of a report prepared by its foreign ministers in the beginning of this week.

 

Some areas in which Turkey should implement reforms were listed as the judicial system, fight against corruption, individual rights, torture and maltreatment, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, respect to property rights, respect to minorities, union rights and civilian supervision over the army.

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--TURKEY TO USE 3G TECHNOLOGY IN 6 MONTHS AT EARLIEST

Third Generation Mobile Communication (3G) Systems, which offer faster data transfers, audiovisual conversations and many more new services, will be used in Turkey starting from May-June 2009. Officials said that users did not have to subscribe for 3G systems immediately, stating that such process would be carried out in a certain period of time.

 

YENI SAFAK

--WHITE MEN COME FOR HELP THIS TIME

Commenting on the Tutsi-Hutu conflict in Rwanda, which was triggered by western countries and during which nearly 1 million people died, Rwandan head mufti Sheikh Sareh Habimana said that his country was relieved thanks to Turkey's help. Habimana said Europe should first make explanations to African countries, stating that Africa was left in sorrow and tears after the fall of the Ottoman reign in the continent.

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--TURKS LIKE EU

According to a research conducted by EU's statistical institution,ÂEurosat, 64,000 Turkish citizens acquired the nationality of EU-member countries. Turks are followed by 48,000 Moroccans and 23,000 Iraqis, the survey said.