GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAR 14

HURRIYET

-- RESCUE PACKAGE

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced the package of measures to avoid the impact of the global financial crisis in the central city of Eskisehir. According to the package, the value added tax (VAT) taken from the sale of new dwellings will be reduced from 18 to 8 percent. Private consumption tax taken from vehicles and durable house goods and electronics would be dropped. An assistance of 500 million TL will be granted to the Eximbank.

-- HIGH-SPEED TRAIN BEGINS ITS FIRST TRAVEL BTW ANKARA-ESKISEHIR

High-speed train started its first travel between Ankara and neighboring Eskisehir province on Friday. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan drove the high-speed train. The journey between Ankara and Eskisehir lasted for 1 hour and 28 minutes. The train can reach a speed of 250 km/h, and it costs 17.5 million euro.

MILLIYET

-- TAX CUT IN AUTOMOTIVE AND HOUSING

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced emergency measures against economic crisis. The government will increase Eximbank's capital 500 million TL more, VAT will be down to 8 percent from 18 for three months in housing, private consumption tax will be reduced for three months in car sales, financial resource for exporters will be increased to 575 million TL from 75 million TL, private consumption tax will also be down for three months in household appliances and electronics goods.

-- ORNEK TO TESTIFY FOR COUP DIARIES

Former commandant of Turkish Naval Forces retired Admiral Ozden Ornek, who is claimed to be the writer of notes known as "coup diaries", will be asked to give testimony in Ergenekon probe.

SABAH

-- THREE-MONTH OPPORTUNITY PACKAGE

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced a package of urgent economic measures on Friday. Another package regarding the real sector will also be made public soon. Erdogan announced the package of economic measures in central province of Eskisehir. The package foresees decrease in consumption tax taken from vehicles and durable house goods and electronics.

-- PACKAGE SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE

Ibrahim Aybar, director general of Renault Mais, said regarding the package of measures announced by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that he was pleased with the package. Aybar said the package should be implemented as soon as possible.

VATAN

--DISCOUNT FOR THREE MONTHS

In an effort to reinvigorate domestic market, the government has prepared a new stimulus package that brings tax cuts for three months. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced the package on Friday but cut rates are not clear yet. Finance Ministry is working on the rates. The ministry plans to reduce private consumption tax to 1 percent from 36 which is applied to cars below 1600cc, a move to deplete stocks. The tax rate for cars from 1600cc to 2000cc is expected to be lowered to 36 percent instead of 60 percent. The value added tax will be down to 1 percent from 6.7 percent in household appliances and electronic goods. This tax will also be reduced to 8 percent from 18 in houses over 150 square meters. VAT rate in houses below 150 square meters is already 1 percent. All tax cuts will be valid for three months.

-- TURKEY WORKED FOR TWO LUCKY PEOPLE

Hundred of thousands of people were vying to hit the jackpot to win Turkey's biggest ever lottery prize and these people paid 256 million TL for the lottery in 85 days. The amount of money paid to lottery booths was 82 million TL over the past one week. Two lucky people won 25 million TL each in this crazy competition and the government won 127.5 million TL.

CUMHURIYET

-- ORNEK TO GIVE TESTIMONY IN ERGENEKON PROBE

Retired Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ozden Ornek, who is claimed to be the writer of notes known as "coup diaries", will give testimony within the scope of ongoing Ergenekon probe.

-- CALL FOR MAY 1

Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK) Chairman Suleyman Celebi said that the European Parliament called on the government to respect the freedom to organize. Celebi said the EP also asked the government to find a solution to the issue regarding celebration of May 1 in Taksim Square.

RADIKAL

-- MEASURES OF 5.5 BLN TL AGAINST ECONOMIC CRISIS

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan announced a surprising package of economic measures in central province of Eskisehir. The package foresees that VAT taken from the sale of new dwellings would be reduced to 8 percent for three months. Private consumption tax will be reduced for three months in car sales, durable house goods and electronics. The amount of the package is around 5.5 billion TL.

-- GENCO ERKAL NAME OF 2009

Actor Genco Erkal received Aydin Dogan Award 2009. The award is given to a leading name of art and science. The award was given to Erkal for his achievements in theatre for 40 years.

YENI SAFAK

-- WELCOME BROTHER

U.S President Barack Obama is scheduled to make a visit to Turkey next month, but his brother George Hussein Obama, who is living in Kenya, came to Turkey before him. Little brother Obama has made a contract with a Turkish firm to distribute nano engine oil made from boron in his country.

-- HEART TRANSPLANT TO 2-YEAR-OLD KID

For the first time in Turkey, doctors made heart transplant to an infant weighing less than 10 kilograms, a professor from Ankara's Gazi University said. Two-year-old Hayrunnisa got the heart of a three-year-old kid. Little girl will be sent home in three weeks, doctors said.