GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAY 3

HURRIYET

--HISTORICAL MESSAGE

Iraqi Shi'ite leader Muqtada al-Sadr sent a message to the world from Istanbul on Saturday. "We have given up armed resistance. However, our cultural, political and economic resistance against the United States and other foreign powers will continue," al-Sadr said.

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--TURKISH COMPANIES MAKE CONTRACTS WORTH 30 MILLION USD AT HONG KONG FAIR

Turkish companies that attended the Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair between April 27 and 30 made contracts worth 30 million USD. A total of 19 Turkish companies participated in the Hong Kong fair.

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 MILLIYET

--ERDOGAN: "MESSAGE OF ELECTORS SHOULD BE COMPREHENDED WELL"

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech in the general assembly meeting of the Union of Turkish Chambers & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) in Ankara. Erdogan gave messages regarding the cabinet revision in his speech and said, "Everyone should comprehend the message that was given by electors in the local elections. Everyone should be aware of their demand for transformation."

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--NEW MINISTERS AT TOBB

New ministers of the cabinet and representatives of business world gathered at the 64th general assembly meeting of the Union of Turkish Chambers & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB). Rifat Hisarciklioglu, who was elected the chairman of TOBB for the second time, warned the government against several issues like economic crisis, unemployment and industrial production.

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SABAH

--FIRST MESSAGE AFTER CABINET REVISION

After the cabinet revision, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan gave the first message at the general assembly meeting of the Union of Turkish Chambers & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB). Erdogan said that there was need for a series of amendments to the Constitution. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal, who spoke at the same meeting, said constitutional amendments must be made with a full social compromise.

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--'SECRET' ARCHITECT OF DIPLOMACY

New Foreign Minister Prof. Dr. Ahmet Davutoglu has made significant contributions to Turkish foreign policy and played an effective role for the regional peace for eight years. Davutoglu took over the post from Ali Babacan and said that they would work for 7 days, 24 hours.

 

 

VATAN

--IRAQI SHI'ITE LEADER AL-SADR IN ISTANBUL FOR 2 MORE DAYS

Iraqi Shi'ite leader Muqtada al-Sadr will remain in Istanbul for two more days. Al-Sadr is the leader of Iraqi Shi'ites that makeup 60 percent of Iraq's total population. Al-Sadr survived many assassination attempts on his life and did not appear in public for the past two years. He has been in Turkey for the past three days. Al-Sadr met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Premier Tayyip Erdogan the other day. On Saturday, al-Sadr met with Shi'ite deputies of the Iraqi Parliament in Istanbul. Al-Sadr's spokesman said that "we are not in danger in Turkey. Turkey is an old friend".

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--WATER SHORTAGE IN ISTANBUL BECOMES HISTORY

Thanks to heavy rainfall in the past four months, Istanbul's dams have been filled with water. 97 percent of all dams surrounding Istanbul are filled with water. As such, water shortage in Istanbul has become history.

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CUMHURIYET

--BIG EXCITEMENT AT INONU

The 30th week of Turkcell Super Soccer League will end with the game between Besiktas and Fenerbahce. Tonight's match kicks off at 8 p.m. and will take place at Istanbul's Inonu Stadium. Besiktas has to win Sunday's game against Fenerbahce in order to remain hopeful for the league championship.

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--ERDOGAN'S NEW CABINET CAUSES TENSION

Turkish Premier Tayyip Erdogan's new cabinet caused tension both in and out of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Most AKP deputies criticized Erdogan's appointment of Ahmet Davutoglu as the new Foreign Minister although Davutoglu is not a parliamentarian. Further, appointment of Bulent Arinc, a former speaker of Turkish Parliament, caused shock out of the AKP as Arinc's relations with the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in the past were not so smooth.

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RADIKAL

--HISARCIKLIOGLU SAYS NEED FOR A NEW ROAD MAP

Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the chairman of the Union of Turkish Chambers & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), gave a message that there must be unity between the new cabinet and the opposition against economic crisis. Hisarciklioglu, who was elected the chairman of TOBB again at the general assembly meeting of the union, said that new ministers should not delay measures against crisis. "There is need for a new road map," Hisarciklioglu said.

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 --COMMITMENT BY DAVUTOGLU

New Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu took over the post from Ali Babacan and said, "We will work really hard for 7 days, 24 hours. If necessary, we will create the 8th day." Kemal Unakitan handed over the post of finance minister to Mehmet Simsek and said that he felt a great relief.

 

YENI SAFAK

--DAVUTOGLU TO TAKE AN OATH AT PARLIAMENT

Ahmet Davutoglu took over the post of foreign minister from Ali Babacan on Saturday. Davutoglu, who is not a parliamentarian, will take an oath at the parliament this week.

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--"TURKEY SETTLES STABILITY IN IRAQ"

Iraqi Shi'ite leader Muqtada al-Sadr held a meeting in Istanbul with a group of Shi'ite deputies. After the closed-door meeting, spokesman of al-Sadr aid that they considered Turkey a country which was working for peace and it could settle stability in the region.