GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON JUNE 4

HURRIYET

--I WILL SEARCH, FIND AND DESTROY

Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug made significant remarks to Hurriyet daily regarding the elimination of the terrorist organization PKK and the "historic opportunity" discussions. Basbug said, "We should not lose our patience just because we cannot solve terrorism immediately. The aim and duty of the Turkish Armed Forces, or TSK, is to continue its fight until terrorists are totally rooted out."

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When a Hurriyet reporter asked, "There is some talk the PKK would announce a cease-fire and totally lay down arms soon", Basbug said, "Nobody should try to give us advice. I will neither stop nor wait for terrorists to come. On the contrary, I will go, search, find and destroy. When you come across a terrorist group, you ask them to surrender whether they stage terrorist acts or not. In which case, an operation is staged."

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When the reporter asked if TSK units could ignore PKK groups when they saw them, Basbug said, "nobody should expect Turkish soldiers not to stage operations in the name of peace against terrorists who try to harm the lives of our citizens and the territorial integrity of our country. Nobody should expect Turkish soldiers to remain silent and crouch down. We will give the severest response when we come across with them."

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--KORKMAZ QUITS AS GALATASARAY COACH, THREE NEW CANDIDATES

Galatasaray soccer team accepted the resignation of coach Bulent Korkmaz. New candidate coaches include Germany's Bernd Schuster, France's Paul Le Guen, and Turkey's Ersun Yanal.

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MILLIYET

--HISTORIC APOLOGY TO NAZIM

Turkey's Ambassador in Moscow Halil Akinci was also before the tomb of renowned poet Nazim Hikmet on the 46th anniversary of his death.

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Akinci left carnations to Nazim Hikmet's tomb and said, "The state called him traitor. Accusing him of being treacherous is short-sightedness, and moreover, stupidity."

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--MEDAL OF HONOR CONFERRED TO GEN. BASBUG IN US

U.S. Defense Department (Pentagon) conferred Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug with medal of honor during his visit to Washington D.C.

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Basbug, who was welcomed with a military ceremony, also met U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Pentagon.

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SABAH

--DRAFT ON MINE PASSED

The draft law on the sweeping of land mines along the Syrian border, which led to tensions between the ruling party and the opposition for four weeks, was adopted in the parliament late on Wednesday.

 

Some 255 parliamentarians voted in favor of the law, while 91 voted against.

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--LOWEST INFLATION FIGURE IN PAST 39 YEARS

Turkish Board of Statistics, or TUIK, announced the producers prices index in May as -2.46 percent, while the onsumer prices index dropped to 5.2 percent.

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It is the lowest inflation figure of the past 39 years.

 

VATAN

--THEY ARE ENGAGED, WEDDING IS THIS YEAR

-The process of merging Democrat Party, or DP, with the Motherland Party was officially launched on Wednesday. DP chairman Husamettin Cindoruk, former prime minister and now independent lawmaker Mesut Yilmaz, and Motherland Party chairman Salih Uzun participated in the summit. A committee comprised of eight people was set up at the end of the summit for merger of the parties. The two parties are expected to merge till the end of this year. Yilmaz said, "I do not think of being the leader, my duty is over now." Cindoruk said, "We can set up a group at the parliament. Everything should be in order."

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--LOWEST INFLATION OF 39 YEARS

The annual inflation continues to drop in Turkey as the global crisis affects the demand. According to the figures of the Turkish Board of Statistics, or TUIK, consumer prices were up 0.64 percent in May, whereas producer prices were down 0.05 percent. The annual inflation dropped to 5.24 percent in consumer prices, and reached the levels of the 1970s. The annual inflation in producer prices was -2.46 percent.

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CUMHURIYET

--DP-MOTHERLAND COMPROMISE ENSURED

Democrat Party, or DP, chairman Husamettin Cindoruk met Motherland Party chairman Salih Uzun and independent parliamentarian Mesut Yilmaz, who has undertaken an active role in uniting the central right parties. Cindoruk, Uzun and Yilmaz set a unification schedule. Yilmaz said that the parties would unite under the roof of the DP, and the chairman of the new party would be Cindoruk.

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--DAVUTOGLU LIKES MODEL PARTNERSHIP

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu spoke in the closing session of the American-Turkish Council in Washington D.C. and referred to the "model partnership" concept that U.S. President Barack Obama mentioned during his visit to Turkey. Davutoglu said, "We are not only strategic partners, but also model partners." Davutoglu said, "model partnership is a requirement, not a matter of preference."

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RADIKAL

--INFLATION STABLE

The consumer price index has risen 0.64 percent in May, while the producer price index dropped 0.05 percent. The annual consumer price index for May was 5.24 percent and -2.3 percent in the producer price index.

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--UNIONS DRAFT LAW SUSPENDED

Chief Negotiator for the EU talks, Egemen Bagis, said the draft on unions, which was a condition to open tbe Social Policy and Employment chapter heading with the European Union was suspended following discussions with organizations of employers and workers'.

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YENI SAFAK

--THREE ALTOGETHER

Democrat Party, or DP, chairman Husamettin Cindoruk and the Motherland Party, or ANAVATAN, chairman Salih Uzun decided to conclude unification by Dec. 31. Former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz supported the two leaders, Cindoruk and Uzun, who disclosed the works for unification.

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--WE ARE STRONGER THIS TIME

Head of the Dogus Group, Ferit Sahenk who explained Turkish banking in the United States, said Turkey was more prepared against crisis compared to the past.