GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JULY 27

HURRIYET

--ERDOGAN: OKKIR'S DEATH IS OF COURSE SADDENING

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not make a comment on the death of Kuddisi Okkir (who died during the Ergenekon investigation) that caused indignation in public.

However, when Ertugrul Ozkok, editor in chief of the daily Hurriyet, asked him to comment on the matter, Erdogan said, "it is of course saddening when considered in humanitarian dimensions. However, if you ask about any negligence, result of the investigation will respond to this."

--SPECIAL COMMISSION WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO DEAL WITH CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT

State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Nazim Ekren said Turkey would not be able to overcome the current account deficit by maintaining traditional production.

Ekren said they made a decision to investigate the reasons of current account deficit and its finance.

Ekren said representatives of private sector would also be included in this commission.

MILLIYET

--INVESTMENTS OF TURKISH ENTREPRENEURS OVERSEAS ON RISE

The investments of Turkish entrepreneurs overseas are on the rise. Turkish businessmen's investments in foreign lands were worth $1.7 billion in 2006. This number climbed to $2.3 billion in 2007.

--A CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT COMMITTEE WILL BE ESTABLISHED, EKREN

The Turkish government would establish a current account deficit committee to solve the problem of the current account deficit, said State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Nazim Ekren. Representatives from the private sector and academic personnel would be members of the committee.

SABAH

--SIMSEK: TURKEY IS NOT ON THE EDGE OF CLIFF AS IT WAS IN 2001

State Minister Mehmet Simsek said Turkey was not on the edge of cliff as it had been in 2001.

Giving information about the economic reforms, Simsek said, "there are some problems and I earlier stated that some other problems have structural dimensions. We had spent 4-5 months to plan many reforms and we made many steps."

--GULER: TURKEY WILL RANK THE FIRST IN WIND ENERGY

Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said number of energy investors reached 3,000 in Turkey, noting that, "Turkey has ranked 12th among the 32 countries in wind energy. We will rank the first or second in the future."

VATAN

--TAPPING LINES OUT OF CONTROL

A senior official of the Turkish Telecommunication Institution said that there are public authorities who tap lines illegally. The number of lines being tapped are around one million. According to the official, each year around 200,000 requests are being made for tapping lines.

--POLICE HELMETS TO HAVE NUMBERS

A new arrangement places numbers on the helmets of Turkish police officers. Accordingly, a police officer would be identified based on the number on his/her helmet.

CUMHURIYET

--PAKISTAN INVITES TURKEY TO BUS TENDER

Yousuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan, said Saturday his country would procure 40,000 buses. Gilani told visiting chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Rifat Hisarciklioglu that "Pakistan may decide to work with Turkey in purchasing the 40,000 buses." Pakistan extended an invitation to Turkey to participate in the upcoming bus tender.

ONE CORPORAL KILLED IN CLASH WITH PKK TERRORISTS

One Turkish corporal was killed and a private injured in a clash with PKK terrorists in north-eastern province of Kars' Kagizman town on early Saturday. Corporal Onur Ilhan died while he was being taken to a hospital in a helicopter. Injured private Osman Candan is under medical treatment.

RADIKAL

BAHCELI: EARLY ELECTION MAY BECOME A NECESSITY

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said early election may become a necessity if Justice and Development Party (AKP) is closed down and the parliament is locked.

Bahceli said his party did not favor closure of parties, however added that, "Constitutional Court will start to hear the case on Monday. We respect their decisions. However, all parties should think on the results of the decision. Clashes and polarization does not bring any good to this country. The past 40 years have sorrowful experiences."

--TPAO SPENDS $1 BILLION FOR TOMOGRAPHY OF BLACK SEA

Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) has full hope on the Black Sea on which it spent $1 billion. TPAO DG Mehmet Uysal said TPAO was planning to open 7 oil wells in the Black Sea in three years.

YENI SAFAK

--MUMCU MURDER IN KUCUK'S POCKET BOOK DIARY

According to a document found in the house of Veli Kucuk, a 6-people Israeli special team assasinated Ugur Mumcu.

A statement sent by National Intelligence Organization (MIT) to then Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel, said, "United States sent a six people team under the control of Israeli Haim Bar-Lev. The team entered Turkey by a boat."

--PAKISTANI PM EAGER TO SEE TURKISH INVESTORS IN HIS COUNTRY

Yousuf Raza Gilani, Prime Minister of Pakistan, said Saturday his country would like to see Turkish entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Gilani said
Pakistan may prefer to work with Turkey for the tender that would be opened to procure 40,000 buses.